Kandy sink Navy as title holders kickoff campaign in style
Title holders Kandy Sports Club produced a powerful display to defeat Navy Sports Club by 44-14 in their SLR- Maliban Inter-Club Rugby League Tournament match played in Welisara yesterday. Kandy SC controlled every key area of the game and built their victory on fast wing attacks, steady scrummaging, and strong discipline, after leading 15-0 at halftime.
Kandy SC collected 44 points from four tries, three conversions and a penalty, while the Sailors managed only two converted tries for their 14 points.
Kandy struck early. In the ninth minute, winger Gayan Perera raced down the right wing and finished in the corner flag to brace the first try. Fullback Hirusha Sampath missed the difficult conversion, but the defending champions moved ahead 5-0. Kandy kept the pressure on and won a penalty inside Navy’s 10-metre zone. Sampath calmly put it over to stretch the lead to 8-0 in the 27th minute.
Their momentum continued. Off a clean scrum, winger Kavindu Perera ran around the posts to brace an easy try. This time, Sampath adjusted his angle well and converted, giving Kandy a commanding 15-0 advantage by the 32nd minute. Navy tried hard to keep the visitors’ powerful runners at bay, but Kandy’s structure and clear decision-making kept them firmly in control. The champions walked into the break leading 15-0.
Just after the restart, Kandy struck again with a quick try, extending their margin to 20-0 and putting Navy under serious pressure. Navy finally responded in the 47th minute when replacement centre Koojana Kulatunga crashed under the posts. Flyhalf Isuru Kongahawatte added the extras, reducing the gap to 20-7.
But Kandy responded strongly. From a well-executed driving maul, lock Daham Wickramarachchi powered over for the bonus-point try in the 60th minute. The try went unconverted, but Kandy’s lead grew to 25-7 Navy showed fighting spirit as replacement prop Roshan Sanjeewa scored, and Kongahawatte converted, bringing the score to 25-14 in the 67th minute. For a moment, the home side looked like they were getting back into the contest.
However, that hope disappeared quickly. National sevens winger Gayan Perera sprinted down the right flank for his second try, stepping past defenders before grounding the ball in the corner. The conversion struck the upright, but Kandy were still ahead 30-14 in the 72nd minute.
Kandy’s forwards then sealed the match. Flanker Wajid Faumy, driving strongly off a scrum, powered over for another try. Replacement fullback Rivin Baudawin converted for a 37-14 lead in the 78th minute. In the dying moments, lock Chathura Soysa dived through the mid-right channel for Kandy’s final try. Baudawin added the conversion, completing a dominant 44-14 victory, moments before referee Sumedha Arunashantha blew the long whistle.