Kandy beat police with a convincing 46 – 19 win in the Dialog Rugby League round 6 at Nittawela.
The game started 15 minutes earlier than the usual time 4.p.m. at Nittawala as Kandy played their second home game after beating Havelock’s by a point in Week 3. Police showed great courage in their defense but they got so much position with lineouts in the first half, but sadly they gave away 5 of them to Kandy. Hosts on the other hand capitalized the errors by the visitors in to points.
Neither team managed to score until the first quarter, Kandy stole the first lineout of Police inside their own 22m and the ball was sent to the line Oscar Ouma made a 50m run to get out of the red zone. It was attack and counter attack for some time with both teams playing in opposite territory. Sean’s forwards stole the Police lineout yet again in the Police 22m and an inside pass to Lavanga Perera who made took it to the try line and added the first score. Roshan Weerarathne converted the extras. (Kandy 07 – 00 Police)
Police had a scrum in their half; Filimoni Seru breaks quick but he was well stopped by Christophere Cloete, Seru holding on the ball was peanilsed by referee Darren Osh as a result Roshan Weerarathne slotted a three point. (Kandy 10 – 00 Police)
Kandy showed a little bit indiscipline in the lineout where pulling off the opposite jumper in the air, Apisai Nagaliva made a thumping 50m kick in to touch at the counter lineout, just 5m away cops lost the ball once again. Roshan Weeraratha’s kick was chased by Cloete but this time he took the opposite full back in the air and was yellow carded few minutes before the half time. Despite Cloete made a solid interception in the air against Navy but it did not go well for the South African today.
The host were off side in defense, Samantha Lakshan of Police had the chance to kick the first points but went wide of the uprights. Lakshan was not worried about his missed kick as he was taking a quick tap in another infringement by Kandy and he made a cross pass to Apisai. The Fijian Apisai continued his form of last week where he was an influence in the Police win over CR&FC. This time he made a solid long pass to Heshan Gunarathna who touched down in the corner. Conversion was missed by Apisai.
Half Time – Kandy (1T, 1C, 1P) 10 – 05 (1T) Police
Apisai restarted after the break from right to left but the hosts changed their gear in attacking as the received ball came to Lavanga Perera, who made a dashing 60m run which was equally well covered and tackled by Apisai, which denied Perera scoring. Police with the ball position could not hang on for a long, due credits to Kandy’s defense. From the attacking scrum Apisai at first receiver made a grubber kick Lakshan and Ashan two centers almost had the ball re-gathered but Oscar Ouma did not take his eyes off the ball as he picked the loose ball and off loaded to Cloete who went a 45m run under the post. Roshan added the extras. (Kandy 17 – 05 Police)
Police felt the heat of the hill country as their defence went into patches. Kandy made a tactical 5 man lineout in the opposite 22m which was well controlled by the forwards. The ball was sent to Fazil Marija who fed the ball to the Kenyan giant Ouma, Lavanga Perera picked the long pass of Ouma and did not hesitate to leap in to his second try in the right corner. Roshan missed the extras. (Kandy 22 – 05 Police)
By the third quarter of the game Apisai’s off load went lose and all Oscar Ouma had to do was run straight and say catch me if you can. Marija nailed the two points. Visitor’s line was penalized for the offside and Lavanga Perera could not ask for a better position as he took a quick tap on the 5m line stepped two and sealed his first hat-trick of his club career. Replaced Quinton Crocker missed the conversion. (Kandy 34 – 05 Police)
The visitor’s made a change; Seru going off and another Kenyan Paul Tuimalo partnered Apisai in the line. Kandy was peanized for side entry and Heshan Gomes took a quick tap and sent it to Apisai who was trying to break the shackles as he made a solid pass to Tuimalo and the Kenyan scored the first try with his first touch. Conversion was good. Kandy did not panic and they maintained the try scoring run as Mohamed Ali coming from the bench, held the driving maul in control to score his first try. (Kandy 39 – 12 Police)
For Police it was all about Apisai, after 7 phases in the dying stages, he managed to beat 3 Kandy defenders and leaped over Nigel Ratwatte to score the consolation try. He also converted his try. Police eager to score once more but the variegated position and mistakes couldn’t take them there. Sudam Sooriarachi took a quick tap and off loaded to Tuimalo who knocked it on and in the counter Crocker collected the ball and ran a dazzling 70m try under the post which was converted by Saliya Kumara. (Kandy 07 – 00 Police)
Full Time Kandy (7T, 4C, 1P) 46 – 19 (3T, 2C) Police
ThePapare player of the match Lavanga Perera (Kandy)
Referee : Darren Osh (Singapore)
