Kandy regain Cup c’ship beating Havies by 17-10….

Kandy SC regained the SLRFU Inter Club Rugby Sevens title when they beat the defending champions Havelock SC by 17 points (1 Goal, 2 Tries) to 10 (2Tries) in the cup championship after trailing 10-7 at half time. The entire tournament was worked off at Race Course grounds in Colombo.

In the second minute of play scrum half Nigel Ratwatte collected a chip kick and scored under the post giving captain and fly half Fazil Marija an easy conversion. Kandy led 7 points to nil. Within the space of two minutes Havelocks skipper and winger Sadun Herath touched down for a try near the right corner flag after a beautiful three quarter move. Fly half Dulaj Perera missed the difficult conversion and the score read 7 points to 5 in favour of Kandy.

In the seventh minute of the play Havelocks scored a fine try when their lanky forward Shenal Dias crashed through for a try mid left and ones again fly half Dulaj Perera who had an off day with the boot missed the conversion, but for the first time Havelocks snatched the lead by 10 points to 7. This score remains till the half time.

After the resumption Kandy took the lead in the 13th minute of play when their dynamic centre Richard Dharmapala scored a sensational try after a 40 metre solo run down the right flank passing several Havies defenders.

Skipper Fazil Marija missed the conversion but Kandy took the lead by 12 points to 10.

In the 18th minute of play off a five metre scrum Kandy scrum half Nigel Ratwatte collected the ball from the base of the scrum and scampered through for a fantastic try and the conversion was missed by captain Fazil Marija ones again but Kandy went further ahead by 17 points to 10.

In the final minute of play Havies got a golden opportunity to score when their fly half Hirantha Perera put a chip kick where he only had to do was just collect the loose ball and touched down under the post since there were no Kandy defenders ahead, but for the utter dismay of all Havies players and supporters, he knocked on.

Kandy SC captain Fazil Marija receiving the Cup Champion  Trophy from SLRFU President Asanga Seneviratne.

With this Kandy ran out winners by 17 points to 10. Referee Priyantha Gunarathna had an excellent game with the whistle.

In the plate finals the gallant CR and FC out fit ran out worthy winners when they thrashed the formidable Police A side by 33 points (4 Goals, 1 Try) to nil victory.

For CR and FC, Forward Jason Disanayake who had a brilliant game along with Winger Kavindu Perera scored two tries a piece while scrum half Dilan Zoysa scored one try. Kanchana Ramanayake and Skipper Ashan De Costa made two conversions each.

The unsung hero for CR and FC was their centre Bhanuka Nanayakkara who had some bone crunching tackles against the opposition to go along with his dazzling runs.

Navy A won the Bowl Championship by beating Army A by 29 points to 7 and Police B won the Shield Championship when they edged out Havelocks B by 17 points to 15.