Kandy SC played CR & FC at Nittawela earlier today, a battle which was pitted as a cruncher in the Dialog Rugby League.
Kandy came on top defeating CR & FC 53 points which came courtesy of 7 tries of which 6 were converted, a sole penalty and a Drop Goal. CR & FC got their 29 points through 4 tries 3 conversions and a penalty. This win secured Kandy the 3rd place at the end of the 6th week.
Ashan De Costa kicked off after the referee’s whistle which was collected and booted by Fazil Marija surprisingly received by his own team mate Damith Dissanayake. A quick pass to Richard Dharmapala saw the speedster stepping and sprinting a good 40m to score left of the posts. Thilina Wijesinghe who had replaced Arshad Jamaldeen as the kicker added the two extras. (07-00)
Photos: Kandy SC v CR & FC – Dialog Rugby League 2016/17 | #Match 23
Photos of the Kandy SC v CR & FC – Dialog Rugby League 2016/17 | #Match 23
The CR reply was instant, they got a penalty for hands in the ruck whichTarinda Ratwatte put through the posts with ease. (07-03) Ratwatte was again in play when he kicked and chased the ball to score right of the posts after having outpaced two Kandy defenders. This was the third kick and chase which he made this season. (07-10) Kavindu Perera then received the ball from the scrum where he ran a good 30m before finding an inside pass to Ratwatte who himself ran another 30m to score under the posts. He failed to add the extras. (07-15)
Thilina Wijesinghe reduced the deficit by 3 points when he slotted a 40m kick from the left flank. The penalty was awarded because the referee found the CR line offside. From this point the home team shifted gear dominating most of the plays and converting it to points. Gayan Weerarathne who was making a comeback after injury was excellent with his at the center. Vishwamithra Jayasinghe scored in the right corner of the field after a typical Kandy backline move. Minutes later Fazil Marija grabbed off a CR lineout to hand it to his long standing counterpart Gayan Weerarathne who flicked to Wijesinghe and on to Viswamithra who finished it off. (17-15)
CR finally got on the score sheet again through Kavindu Perera touching down at the left corner of the field. This was all courtesy of a knock on by a Kandy player which led to a scrum in an attacking position. Ratwatte received good ball from Costa who handed it to Kavindu before he scored. Ratwatte added the extras. (17-22) Soyuru Anthony was the last try scorer of the first half. He scored under posts due to a CR forward failing to hang on to his tackle. Wijesinghe converted easily.
Half time – Kandy SC 22 (3T 2C 1P) – 22 (3T 2C 1P) CR & FC
Sri Lanka rugby’s stalwart Marija started the second half and both the teams played their way into the second half before a lineout ball was taken cleanly and handed off to Kandy’s Buwanaka Udagangamuwa who made a run in to the 22 of CR which was worked and handed to Danushka Ranjan. This was Ranjan’s eighth try of the season which is why he is the leading try scorer of the tournament. Thilina added the extras from the left flank 30m out. (29-22)
Yakoob Ali went onto score a try for Kandy after a lineout ball was cleanly collected by Shehan Pathirana who gave it over to Roshan Weerathna which eventually ended setting up the forwards left of the posts where he scored . Thilina converted a rather difficult kick. (36-22)
Ranjan was in action again scoring his second try of the game. Kandy pressured the clearance kick of Ashan De Costa who found Ranjan up the field. Ranjan blasted his way through the defense to score right under the corner flag. (43-22)
Danush Dayan was the last try scorer for Kandy. Marija who was having a pretty ordinary game by his standards showcased his skill when he cross kicked the ball across the field for Dayan to collect and drop right on the try line. (50-22)
Ashan De Costa got the only points for CR in the second half, when he ripped the ball off a Kandy player and sprinted 60m for a try in the corner. Ratwatte made no mistake in converting. (50-29) Wijesinghe made is impossible for CR to comeback when he put through a drop goal bisecting the posts right through with very little time left on the clock. (53-29)
Kandy made their third bonus point in 3 games at Nittawela where they remain unbeaten. At the end of the 6th week they currently stand in the 3rd place below Havelocks and Navy. Kandy has a chance of defending their title if they go on to beat Havelocks next week.
Full time – Kandy SC 53 (7T 6C 1P 1DG) – 29 (4T 3C 1P) CR & FC
ThePapare Player of the Match: Gayan Weerarathne (Kandy SC)
Score breakdown
Kandy SC
Dhanuska Ranjan (2)
Wiswamithra Jayasinghe (1)
Danush Dayan (1)
Yakoob Ali (1)
Richard Dharmapala (1)
Sayuru Anthony (1)
Thilina wijesinghe (6C 1P 1DG)CR & FC
Kavindu Perera (1T)
Ashan DE Costa
Tarinda Ratwatte (2T 3C 1P)
