Despite some drawbacks this season, the rugby Giants from the hill country retained their League title for the 3rd year in a row after beating CH&FC 59 points to 3 in their final match of the Dialog Rugby League 2016/17.
The champions started off the season by belting CH&FC in the first match and they finished it by beating them once again.
Even though the champions took the win, it was one of their worst performances in the season. From the kick off they were indisciplined but fortunately for them CH&FC couldn’t punish them enough. Kandy drew first blood in the 14th minute when Shehan Pathirana ran over for a try. It was Heshan Silva who broke through from the line out and paved the way for Pathirana. Jamaldeen added the extras. (Kandy SC 7 – CH&FC 0)
Kandy struck once again from the restart when Arshad Jamaldeen broke through from the half way mark and offloaded to Lavanga Perera to go over the line. (Kandy SC 12 – CH&FC 0)
Then came the try of the day by Dhanush Dayan of Kandy SC. CH&FC were deep inside the Kandy half but the ball was turned over inside their 10m. Dayan received the ball around the 10m and he ran through the field all the way to score under the post showing his speed and skills on foot. It was an easy conversion for Jamaldeen. (Kandy SC 19 – CH&FC 0)
CH&FC got their first and only points on board in the 26th minute through a well taken penalty by Shamri Burah. Burah played a pivotal role in the first half but unfortunately after a collision on the field he was stretchered off unconscious. Kandy ended the half with another converted try by Srinath Sooriyabandara.
Half Time : Kandy SC 26 – CH&FC 03
The second half was one sided as Kandy piled up the score from the kick off. Once again the restart from Rohitha Rajapaksha was not over the 10m so the scrum was awarded to Kandy on the half way mark. Shehan Pathirana broke through from the scrum and ran almost all the way to the try but was brought down. Fortunately for him support was right behind him and it was Jamaldeen who went over. He himself bisected the uprights to add the extras. (Kandy SC 33 – CH&FC 3)
Kandy took away the game from CH ten minutes later with two converted tries. First one came from the likes of Anuruddha Wilwara. Kandy using their forwards to push deep into CH&FC half, just worked the line to go over. The next try came from Arshad Jamaldeen and this time too Anuruddha Willawara showed his strength in drawing three defenders towards him and opening up the gap for Jamaldeen. (Kandy SC 47 – CH&FC 3)
Kandy was not at their best but showed no mercy as they piled up two more tries before the final whistle. Srinath Sooriyabandara showed some individual brilliance as he ran from the half way mark, chipped the ball over final defender and jumped over the ball inside the try. In the 76th Lavanga Perera put the icing on the cake with his second try of the game to end their final outing of the league with another huge margin.
Full Time : Kandy SC 59 – CH&FC 3
ThePapare.com‘s Player of the Match : Arshad Jamaldeen (Kandy SC)
Points Scorers for Kandy SC : Lawanga Perera 2T, Arshad Jamaldeen 2T 6C, Danush Dayan 1T, Srinath Sooriyabandara 2T, Anuruddha Willawara 1T, Shehan Pathirana 1T
Point Scorers for CH&FC : Shamri Burah 1P
