Kandy Sports Club got the better of Havelock Sports Club in a severe pay back stand for the loss inflicted on them by the opponent in their last encounter taking the game 33 points to 25 in a ferocious battle at Nittawela this evening.
The wo heavyweights of the club rugby arena locked horns an enthralling game of rugby which took place in the lawns of Nittawela with both sides being equally competent and not allowing the slightest leniency to their counterpart. Havelocks having rejoiced the sweetness of victory in the previous outing at home came in to the game flying high entertaining thoughts of repeating the result little knowing that the determined Kandy contingent were ready, armed and dangerous.
The Havies who displayed an overwhelming outburst of stamina started proceedings at Nittawela aggressively pushing the extra men through their forwards which finally bore fruit as Henry Terrance barged over for the first try on the right corner. This was no doubt a boost of adrenaline to the visitors, though the conversion was not successful. Kandy’s reply came right after play was restarted as Roshan Weeraratna kicked in a 38m penalty to bring the deficit down to two points.
The visitors continued their attacking spree towards the middle stages this time with Niroshan Fernando who crossed in a well-executed kick allowing the speedster Dhanushka Ranjan to score try #2 for the Colombo lads. William Hakalu missing again in the conversion, Havelocks seemed as it said to be building up a solid lead. The game took an indefinite twist into the closing ten minutes of play in the first half with two back to back tries from Kandy which had the home side go ahead of their counterparts for the first time in this game as play was called for the break.
Both tries by Kandy were triggered by the outside center David Hallefouna when in the first attempt he broke through a hefty Havies defense before he claimed in a quick off load to wing three Lavanga Perera who scored try number one. The next came through with Hallefouna breaking in through the inside allowing Gayan Weeraratna to score his first and the team’s second try for the day. With Roshan Weeraratna not having a go in any of the conversions, the scores read 13-10.
With minutes in to the second half, Hallefouna made successive breaks to the attacking 22m with the Kandy forwards coming in to action as they pushed through the heavy Havelock front rows to plant the third try for the day. Dinesh Sanjeewa was the man who crept through and Kandy’s lead extending by five points with conversions not going through for Roshan Weeraratna.
The game had its twists and Kandy gave in to Havelocks very easily in the infringements they committed as a loose ball which was easily intercepted by Dhanushka Ranjan whose legs had the stamina to cover around 60 meters to score under the post which was easily converted and deficit reduced to a single point. With an infringement by a Kandy player on the 22 m mark, William Hakalo was allowed to kick a penalty to take the momentum spinning towards Havelocks side as they possessed the lead once again.
Their euphoria was short lived with Roshan Weeraratna kicking an easy penalty through to regain the lead back in Kandy’s favour as scores read 21-20. Hope started deviating from Havelocks from that point onwards as one could witness a sudden push of energy coming through to the Kandy players as the clamours from the Kandy pavilions did not ease up. Kandy crossed over once again through a forward maul in the right corner where the lead extended by another five points. Kandy found luck as Richard Dharmapala was able to seal the day’s result in favour of Kandy as he touched down an open ball in their territory. Roshan Weeraratna finally got the pulse back in his kicking as his conversion went through to extend the score to 33 points. With a loss in sight the Havelocks fought through in their 22m area with forwards and Dhanushka Ranjan being able to come together with a consolidation try at the death but it was not enough to prevent an inevitable win for the home team at Nittawela.
The scores read Kandy 33 (1G 4T 2P) to Havelocks SC 25 (1G 3T 1P)
It was a full house at Nittawela as hope and faith has remained in the Kandy fans as they cheered on their heroes tirelessly. The game today had quite a many stops with both teams committing many infringements which gave away a considerable amount of penalties. Kandy’s Damith Dissanayaka and Havelock’s William Hakalo were sin binned for their infringements and both teams failed at a considerable level in place kicking. Roshan Weeraratna failed to materialize and squandered many opportunities and he sure would need to concentrate on his kicking if he is to continue. Havelocks on the other hand had their tactical changes such as changing sides to benefit Mohammed Sheriff but their tactical playing was not seen in the second half sadly which made them to end up the losing side.
Kandy’s overseas duo Soni Samisoni and David Hallefouna made the difference between the two sides as these two players were key in today’s game. Samisoni was responsible for many of the turnovers as he communicated well with his quarter backs. Hallefouna on the other hand stood out as the MVP for the day with him triggering Kandy’s attack. It was a good sight to witness Kandy working together as a team once again with Marija coming back from the odds.
Havelocks will be facing Navy next weekend while Kandy will play CR& FC at home which would be the deciding games of the Dialog Rugby League.
Nizam Jamaldeen Refereed.
