Kandy Sports Club was denied the Western Club Rugby silverware last weekend when Doha RFC 28-17 defeated them in the final encounter played in Dubai.
The fortune favored the islanders competing against the Middle-East giant Doha Rugby Football Club when in the absence of an ambulance at the venue the match was called off and win awarded to Kandy SC as the host club is responsible for arrangements.
Opening the scores, Doha kicked two successful conversions to take the lead but later Kandy replied with a try but unfortunately missed the posts that deprived them from taking the lead. Fighting back, the Doha men replied with a penalty to escalate the lead but it was Kandy that took the upper hand in the middle stages of play.
Thilina Wijesinghe crossed over for a well worked try on the outside and also added the extras giving the Lankans the lead for the first time (12-9). Trailing by three, Doha regained the lead with an unconverted try just before lemons.
Kandy’s unconverted try in the start of the second half to get themselves back in the lead was short lived as Doha RFC snatched the lead back with an unconverted try. Disappointingly Kandy could not get the better of the home team in the last stages of play as the hosts went on to accumulate a try and penalty to conclude at 29-17.
The islanders didn’t possess the energy in the last 10-15 minutes and that proved to be the turning point in the game. The encounter that was on a balance was later dominated by Doha who had advantage in fitness. Kandy also were unlucky in the second half when they lost their key man Koto Pongi who walked out with an injury.
The Lankans however finish second in the title run even without likes of their star players who are currently on national duty for the Asia Sevens series. Sean Wijesinghe led the team for the championship and it can be called as a good pre-season warm up for the side that will be defending their league title this season.
