South African flanker Christopher Cloete with an incredible performance, inspired the unthinkable for Kandy SC as they overcame power house, Tuskers-ridden Navy SC in their own den 16-06 leaving a usually vociferous Navy camp shell-shocked.
It was a tailor made weather conditions initially for the big clash despite the soggy underfoot until rains slashed down in the dying moments. Kandy SC began as the brighter team as they piled pressure on the Navy defence in the first few minutes of the game. Kandy SC turned the pressure into points as scrum half Roshan Weerarathne gave the visitors an early lead when he fired over a penalty in the fifth minute. (Kandy 03-00 Navy)
Navy SC had a chance to go ahead in the game when Setefano Cakaunivalu made a delightful chip-kick into acres of space at the back of the Kandy defence, but Winger Dinusha Chathuranga failed to get on the end of the ball as Nigel Ratwatte dived to save the try. Few minutes later Navy SC got a penalty in Rizah’s kicking range but captain Yoshita Rajapaksa decided to go for touch instead of the three points.
Navy had penalties after penalties in the opposite red zone where the decision making went astray as they choose to tap and run; they even won a penalty 5m away but the host could not capitalise the chances in to points.
The first 20 minutes of the game passed by with neither team able to get a scuff- hold on the game.The Sailors managed to level matters up in the 23rd minute through the boot of prolific point’s scorer Rizah Mubaraka following a high tackle from Kandy Centre Gayan Weerarathne. (Kandy 03-03 Navy)
Coming back from injury RoshanWeerarathne was not a 100%, yet the visitors needed his services as he controlled the game with sheer brilliance with his experience. Christopher Cloete charged Weerarathne’s box kick and he was sharp to collect leaping over Chamara Dabare in the wing. Cloete scoched the first try with that collection in the left corner. (Kandy 08-03 Navy)
Half Time: Kandy SC 08 (1T, 1P) – Navy SC 03 (1P)
The second half got underway as Kandy made a surprising change to bring in Buwaneka Udangamuwa to play flanker instead of his usual Centre role. On the other hand Navy began the second 
half with force as they managed to pressurize the Kandy defence as the hosts continuously got themselves into encouraging positions but could not manage to add the finishing touches.
Roshan Weerarathne had the chance to extend the Kandy lead through a long range penalty but it fell tantalizing close to the upright as the score remained 8-3 in favour of Kandy SC.
Nigel Ratwatte playing at fullback returned a kick with force as he made a scintillating break down the left corner. As Ratwatte placed the ball, Navy SC players were penalized for hands in the ruck as a result Kandy took a quick tap from the resulted penalty and found Christopher Cloete at the end of the pass as he burrowed over the line to score his second try of the game. Roshan Weerarathne failed to convert the try. (Kandy 13-03 Navy)
Rizah Mubarak managed to tick the points with a penalty after Gayan Weerarathne was penalised on a high tackle for the second time and was sin binned for 10 minutes. (Kandy 13-06 Navy)
With the game heating up in the death, Navy SC stepped up their game significantly and tried to prise-open the Kandy defence as they pilled pressure through multiple number of phases.
The Kandy defence held firm as they absorbed all the pressure and managed to keep the Navy lads at bay. Every move Kandy SC made worked as they ran a loose ball from inside their own 22 with force. Navy SC turned the ball over but Christopher Cloete’s intervention at the break down resulted in Kandy SC winning a penalty as Navy SC hung on to the ball on the floor. Up stepped Roshan Weerarathne to convert the penalty and extend their lead. (Kandy 16-06 Navy)
With the game out of reach, Navy SC tried to score a consolation try to gain a valuable bonus point but their last gasp effort was all in vain as the Kandy defence held firm yet again to seal the win for the boys from Kandy.
Full Time: Kandy SC 16 (2T, 2P) – Navy SC 06 (2P)
ThePapare.com Man of the Match: Christopher Cloete – Kandy SC
Quote – “Navy was a good team but we were found better, we are pretty sure they will come back strongly, but we have to be even stronger the next time. This is a long season 14 matches more to go ,anything could happen. We will take one game at a time and ensure not to repeat the mistake we made with Army.
We Kandy players want to dedicate this special win to our families, longstanding supporters and especially to Malik Samarawickrama and the committee. . Thank you again!” – Sean Wijesinghe
Teams
Kandy SC – Nigel Rathwatte, Pradeep Liyanage, Oscar Omar, Gayan Weerarathne, Anurudha Wilwara, Fazil Marija, Roshan Weerarathne, Sean Wijesinghe, Christopher Cloete, Sashika Jayawardhna, Shanaka Bandara, Gayan Rathnayaka, Piyumal Manchanayake, Uchitha Jayasuriya, Jehan Krisho. Replacements: Ali Mohamed, Lasitha Attanagoda, Damith Dissanayaka, Buwaneka Udangamuwa, Saliya Kumara, Quinton Crocker, Oshan Perera, Shanaka Tharidu.
Navy SC– Riza Mubarak, Dinusha Fernando, Setefano Cakaunivalu, Lee Keegel, Chamara Dabare, Srinath Sooriyabandara, Suranga Pushpakumara, Fuapau Halafihi, Yoshita Rajapaksa, Dhanushka Perera, Suhiru Anthony, Hasitha Perera, Eranga Swarnathilaka, Achala Perera, Terence Henry. Replacements: Sathya Ranathunga, Kasun de Silva, Dulanjana Wijesinghe, Sajith Saranga, Saliya Hadapangoda, Vishvamithra Jayasinghe, Leo Naikasau, Joeli Lutamailagi.
