Kandy roar back in title race with six-try demolition of Havies

Tuesday, 10 February 2026 03:34 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

A fully loaded Kandy Sports Club outfit emphatically underlined their championship credentials in the Cup segment of the Inter-Club Rugby League 2025/26, producing a ruthless display to overwhelm Havelock Sports Club 42/17 at Havelock Park on Saturday with a six-try blitz.

The commanding six-try victory signalled that the defending champions are firmly back on track in the title race, with a home Super Final at Nittawela now very much within reach.

Kandy led 15/10 at the short breather.

Kandy’s performance was all the more impressive given they were reduced to 14 men for the final 15 minutes of play. Yet, rather than panic, the visitors displayed composure and clinical efficiency, outscoring Havies during that period and reinforcing their reputation as the benchmark side in Sri Lankan club rugby.

Fullback Hirusha Sampath opened the scoring with an early penalty, before winger Dinal Ekanayake produced two moments of individual brilliance. His intercept tries in the 10th and 23rd minutes, both taken the length of the field, stunned the home crowd at the Park and gave Kandy a firm grip on proceedings.

Havies showed some moment of back-foot on a Yellow Card to their overseas player and centre Junior Visesio, but later on managed to narrow the gap through a Nabeel Yahiya penalty and a converted try by hooker Azmir Fajudeen. At 15/10 down at the short breather, the hosts had momentum and belief.

However, Kandy raised their intensity after the break. Veteran fly-half Srinath Sooriyabandara cut through the Park Club defence and foxed the entire three-quarters of the Park Club to score a converted try, followed soon after by a centre Diluksha Dange try to extend the lead to 27/10.

Although Havies struck back through Vunaki Waqanibau, Kandy’s resolve remained unshaken. Even after Dange’s Red Card offence, the champions tightened defensively and finished strongly.

Scrum-half Heshan Jansen’s opportunistic try, along with a penalty and late try from replacement fullback Shaahid Zumri, sealed a comprehensive victory.

This emphatic result restores Kandy’s momentum at a critical stage of the League. With their balance, depth, and composure rediscovered, the champions have sent a clear message and, hitting the top gear at the correct time in the road to the title, a potential home sell-out Super Final at Nittawela awaits their supporters on 21 February.

Referee Meitetsu Shimizu handled the game with great control, allowing the game to flow and giving top priority for safety.

In another Inter-Club Plate segment encounter, Air Force Sports Club continued their dominance when they beat Army Sports Club 25/12 at Panagoda. At the short breather, the winners led 10/5.