Kandy SC League Champs……

Sri Lanka Navy won the battle but lost the war as they challenges Kandy Sports Club by the wafer this margin of 12 points (4 penalties) to 11 (1 try, 2 penalties) in their Dialog League Rugby Championship before a capacity crowd at the Nittewela Rugby Stadium, Kandy yesterday.

At half time Kandy led 8-6.

But Kandy Sports Club won the league title on bonus points. Vice President of the Sri Lanka Rugby Football Union Lasitha Gunaratne confirmed that Kandy SC had won the League title when the points for and against was calculated and Kandy had a better aggregate of points.

When Kandy was announced as League Champions for 2015, Hans Wijesuriya of Dialog Axiata handed over trophy to the captain of Kandy Sports Club Sean Wijesinghe.

Kandy Sports Club who at one state won the League title 11 years in a row regained it after a lapse of 3 years.

Kandy could opened scoring almost with the kick off but scrum half Roshan Weeraratne fired a 35 metre penalty.

In the 7th minute Kandy opened scoring when they won a scrum near the 22 metre line and flanker Christopher Cloeste scored by the right corner flag and Roshan Weeraratne missed a difficult kick at goal. Kandy 5-0.

In the 12th minute the Sailer reduced the lead through a 35 metre penalty put over by full back Nuwan Hettiarachchi. Navy 3-5.

The game see-sawed and Navy took over the had when full back converted a 40 metre penalty award for the three quarters being off side. Navy led 6-5.

Three minutes later Kandy once again wrested the lead when a Navy Player war spotted off side and Roshan Weeraratne kicked the penalty which was awarded. Kandy led 8-6.

Just before the short blast Navy prop Achala Perera was sent on ‘Sin bin’ for a dangerous tackle.

The battle raged on after the sides changed ends and the Navy team made some threatening moves but failed to penetrate the Kandy difence.

In the 17th minute of the second half Nuwan Hettiarachchi fired his third penalty to put the Navy team once again ahead leading 9-8. A desperate Kandy team was seen making a relentless attack on the Navy defence which refused to be bludgeon.

Kandy continued to make mistakes and this time another infringement saw them concede a penalty which was fired with delight by full back Nuwan Hettiarachchi for the Navy to extend their lead to 12-8.

With minutes ticking Kandy kept attacking and a penalty which came their was put over by Roshan Weeraratne and still Navy lead on thread 12-11. A bruising battle in fading light was witnessed. In the last minute of play Kandy was awarded a 35 metre penalty and surprisingly this was kicked astray by Roshan Weeraratne. If this kick had gone through Kandy would have won the match.