Kandy SC edge out Navy 21-18

Kandy Sports Club the defending league champions and present table leaders beat Navy SC in a close game by 21 points (3 goals) to 18 (1 goal, 1 try and two penalty kicks at goal) in their Nippon Paint inter club first round rugby match played at Nittawela grounds last evening under wet conditions, which was Kandy SC’s fourth straight win in four outings.

In this game the Kandy SC side took the field without their captain Damith Dissanayke who is nursing an injury after the Air Force SC game and Lavnaga Perera led the side. Sailors gave a good display and Kandy SC’s team work was superb. Both teams rucked drove and powered their way.

The platform for Kandy SC’s win was laid by a ferocious display by their players. And it was nice to see the power packed display of their forwards in which all eight were outstanding and the Sailors too did the same. The back division players of both teams also impressed with their straight aggressive running punching holes in the opponents’defence.

In the first half Kandy SC led by 14 points to 8. The fourteen points came off two goals, the try scorers were Dhanushka Ranjan and Uchitha Jayasuriya and both tries were goaled by Tharinda Ratwatte and for the Navy SC Pulasthi Dassanayake scored the try and the penalty was put over by Samuel Maduwantha.

Soon after half time, the Kandy SC ruggedizes pinned the Sailors into their half and kept play with the forwards and in the second half Kandy SC scored the only try through Damian Ratwatte, goaled by Tharinda Ratwatte, For Navy SC Radeesha Senavirthne scored a try wghich was goaled by Samuel Maduwantha who also put over the penalty.

Ishanka Abeyakoon did a grand job with the whistle.