After clinching the league title, Kandy Sports Club cruised to a commanding victory over newcomers Sri Lions, securing a 41- 08 win in their Mastercard Inter-Club Clifford Cup Knockout Championship 2025 quarterfinal clash at Nittawela.
Defending league champions Kandy SC kicked off their Clifford Cup Knockout campaign in pursuit of their first double since 2018, hosting new entrants Sri Lions. The visitors got things underway through a Dilshan Madushanka kick-off, but it was the hosts who struck first. Kandy launched a rapid series of attacking phases, seamlessly combining their forwards and backs before Thilina Bandara powered through and offloaded to Shahid Zumri, who dotted down with ease.
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Kandy continued their attacking dominance as their forwards set the platform with powerful carries, earning a penalty. Heshan Jansen took a quick tap and released Tharinda Ratwatte, who sliced through a gap before muscling past the last defender to score. Ratwatte then converted his own try to extend Kandy’s lead.
However, a lapse in concentration gifted Sri Lions a soft try. While Kandy was setting up a ruck inside their own 22, Heshan Jansen took a few seconds too long to organize his blockers. Prasad Madushanka spotted the opportunity, snatched the ball from the base of the ruck, and raced over the line, catching the champions off guard.
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Kandy quickly regained control, capitalizing on a Sri Lions mistake at the goal-line drop-out. A mistimed run led to an offside call, awarding Kandy a five-meter scrum. No. 8 Sanushka Abeywickrama broke away but was halted illegally, resulting in a penalty. Heshan Jansen reacted swiftly with another quick tap, maintaining the attacking pressure. Skipper Srinath Sooriyabandara then orchestrated a slick backline move, spreading the ball wide to Diluksha Dange, who dived over in the corner to further cement Kandy’s dominance.
Half-Time: Kandy SC 17 (3T, 1C) – Sri Lions SC 05 (1T)
The hosts exploded into the second half, scoring within the opening minute. Nalan Premnath sparked the move with a perfectly executed counter-ruck, winning possession for Kandy. Heshan Jansen quickly distributed the ball to the backs, who stretched the Sri Lions’ defense with slick passing from left to right, allowing Diluksha Dange to race over in the corner. Tharinda Ratwatte added the extras with a pinpoint conversion.
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Kandy’s relentless attack continued, this time from a 40-meter lineout. Moving the ball swiftly through sharp running lines, Premnath found space and broke into the 22-meter area. Jansen recovered a loose ball and offloaded to Nigel Ratwatte, who drew in the last defender before sending Tharinda Ratwatte over for his second try.
The tempo of Kandy’s game proved too much for Sri Lions once again. Awarded a penalty near the halfway mark, Shahid Zumri took a quick tap, shifting play to Jansen, who accelerated the attack with a long pass to winger Gayan Perera. Perera powered past the final defender to touch down.
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Sri Lions managed to put points on the board with a well-taken penalty by Kevin Dixon, but Kandy had the final say. From a tap penalty, Suranga Tennakoon fired a flat pass to Lasitha Attanagoda, who bulldozed his way forward, bringing play inches short of the whitewash. Tennakoon then quickly recycled the ball, delivering another pinpoint pass to Wajid Faumy, who dived over to seal the try. Shahid Zumri added the conversion, capping off a commanding performance and securing Kandy’s home semi-final in style.
Full Time: Kandy SC 41 (7T,3C) – Sri Lions SC 08 (1T,1P)
Swisstek Player of the Match: Diluksha Dange (Kandy SC)
Points Breakdown
Kandy SC 41
Diluksha Dange 2T, Gayan Perera 1T, Wajid Faumy 1T, Shahid Zumri 1T,1C, Tharinda Ratwatte 2T, 2C
Sri Lions SC 08
Prasad Madushanka 1T, Kevin Dixon 1P
