Kandy Sports Club extended their unbeaten run with a commanding 38-21 victory over CH & FC in the Mastercard Inter-Club Clifford Cup Knockout Championship 2025 Semi Final at Nittawela.
After a dominant win over the Sri Lions, unbeaten Kandy Sports Club hosted CH & FC, who edged past Air Force in a close encounter to reach the Semi Finals. Dinesh De Silva kicked off the game for the visitors.
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The home side wasted no time asserting their dominance, launching an early attack from a lineout. Kandy’s forwards laid the perfect platform, drawing in more defenders with powerful pick-and-go drives. Spotting space out wide, Heshan Jansen quickly sent the ball to his backs, and with two slick passes, speedster Shahid Zumri sliced through two defenders to touch down for the opening try. (Kandy 05-00 CH)
Kandy struck again soon after, capitalising on a turnover forced by a massive hit from Dinal Ekanayake on the young Pasindu Bandara. With CH caught off guard, Ekanayake pounced on the loose ball and charged straight through the disorganized defense to score under the posts. With Tharinda Ratwatte absent, Nigel Ratwatte took over kicking duties and slotted the conversion with ease. (Kandy 12-00 CH)
CH showed promise in attack, but struggled to convert pressure into points. Kandy, on the other hand, made full use of their opportunities. Off a lineout near the 40-meter mark, Jansen collected the ball and shaped to run wide, luring the defense with him. A quick inside pass found Dinal Ekanayake bursting through the CH defensive line. He carried deep into opposition territory before timing a perfect offload to Thilina Bandara, who drew the last defender and set up Diluksha Dange to finish off Kandy’s third try. Nigel Ratwatte added the extras. (Kandy 19-00 CH)
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Just before Half Time, Kandy sparked a counterattack from inside their own 22-meter line. Ekanayake once again made valuable inroads with his pace before offloading to Jansen, who found open space ahead. As he drew in the last defender, Jansen passed to Thilina Bandara, but with defenders closing in fast, Bandara calmly faked a run before delivering a basketball-style pass to Nigel Ratwatte, who crossed the line for a spectacular counterattacking try. Ratwatte converted to cap off a dominant first half for Kandy.
Half Time: Kandy SC 26 (4T,3C) – CH & FC 00
The opening ten minutes were intense, with CH fighting hard to stay in the contest, but Kandy’s defense remained resolute. CH looked promising inside the 22 with a quick tap, but Dhanushka Ranjan read it perfectly, intercepting and sprinting 50 meters before being hauled down by Skipper Janindu Dilshan. A quick ball from Nalan Premanath found Zumri, who drew two defenders before flicking a backhand pass to Tharindu Chathuranga. He offloaded to Jansen, who was bundled into touch, but Kandy had the advantage. Seizing the moment, Zumri took a quick tap, sidestepped two defenders, and dived over for the first try of the second half, with Nigel Ratwatte adding the conversion. (Kandy 33-00 CH)
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After 54 minutes of frustration, CH finally broke through Kandy’s defense with a powerful rolling maul. Their forwards gained momentum, allowing replacement hooker Anuk Fernando to peel off and touch down, with Janith Chandimal converting to cut the deficit. (Kandy 33-07 CH)
Kandy, unfazed by the concession, responded immediately with relentless forward play. Their pack dominated through patient pick-and-drives before Jansen released the ball to the backs. Replacement flyhalf Asiri Senevirathne sliced through defenders, taking play close to the five-meter line. Thilina Bandara followed up with a strong carry before Jansen’s final pass found Diluksha Dange, who bulldozed his way over for his second try. (Kandy 38-07 CH)
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CH struck twice in quick succession, though they were mere consolation efforts. The first came from open play as Pasindu Bandara made a dazzling break, offloading near the five-meter line for Skipper Janindu Dilshan to score. Their final try saw CH execute another rolling maul before shifting the ball wide, allowing winger Ramesh Fernando to dive over in the corner. Chandimal converted both, but it was Kandy’s night as they secured victory and booked their place in the home final.
Full Time: Kandy SC 38 (6T,4C) – CH & FC 21 (3T,3C)
Swisstek Player of the Match: Heshan Jansen (Kandy SC)
Points Breakdown
Kandy SC 38
Shahid Zumri 2T, Diluksha Dange 2T, Dinal Ekanayake 1T, Nigel Ratwatte 1T, 4C
CH & FC 21
Anuk Fernando 1T, Janindu Dilshan 1T, Ramesh Fernando 1T, Janith Chandimal 3C
