Kandy Sports Club held their nerve against CR & FC in their Dialog A Division Club Rugby match beating the visitors 19-13 at the Nittawela Stadium last evening.
The newly reincarnated leaders of the Club Rugby league table Kandy Sports Club had a very good outing last week as they secured a comfortable win over the Policemen and were all out to retain the top spot in the league. The men in red, CR & FC who started their season in a high pitch had not been able to retain their tone of play as they were struggling in the mid-stages of the league. The Kandy outfit looked very volatile with the absence of key players such as Christopher Cloete, Anurudda Wilwara and Gayan Weeraratna.
Despite the injuries, it was the home team who drew first blood. Fazil Marija who spotted the empty spaces in the CR line in a 22m lineout, charged onto the try line to score the first try. Center Quinton Crocker added the extras giving the hosts an early lead. (7-0)
Though there were many significant breaks seen by both teams, during the course of the next 30 minutes, nothing of significance took place from either side to warrant points as referee blew for half time.
Half Time : Kandy 7 (1T 1C) vs CR 00
The hosts continued to amass the pointers as they went on to score their second try of the day during the early stages of the first half and once again veteran Fazil Marija did the honours. Marija found his way easily through the middle side stepping the last defender to score under the post. Saliya Kumara converted the try to elevate the score. (14-0)
The Red shirts who were silent all throughout the game, were finally seen getting momentum back on their side as the visitors decided to fight back. Kanchana Ramanayaka started the scoring as he kicked a 35 meter penalty through to bring in the first three points. (3-14)
But the gas on the throttle for CR did not prevent Kandy from continuing their dominancy. The hefty forwards of Kandy pushed themselves through to the try line as Shashika Jayawardena registered their thrid try which went unconverted. (19-3)
CR & FC came back fighting with two unconverted tries each scored by Sasanka Ariyaratna and Kanchana Ramanayaka but that did not prevent a Kandyan victory.
The game ended giving Kandy yet another exciting win at the juncture of the 7th week.
Full Time: Kandy 19 (3T 2C)vs CR 13 (2T 1P)
