Kandy run riot against Sri Lions to stay unbeaten
Kandy Sports Club made a mockery of Sri Lions Sports Club as the defending champions recorded a crushing 91–3 victory in a 15 try demolition to remain unbeaten in the SLR–Maliban Club Rugby League 2025/26 at Longdon Place yesterday.
After being held to their first draw of the season against CH&FC last weekend, Kandy clearly had a point to prove and did so in emphatic fashion. They ran in 15 tries and added eight conversions to register both the highest score and the heaviest winning margin in recent domestic rugby history. Although they lost discipline on a few occasions, Sri Lions were unable to capitalise, managing just three points from a penalty converted by scrum half Nathan Gunaratne in the 16th minute.
Kandy SC No.8 Daham Wickramaarachci on his way to post one of his four tries - Pic by Eshan Fernando
The remainder of the contest was dominated almost entirely by Kandy, with three of their star players crossing for multiple tries. No. 8 Dahan Wickramaarachchi was the standout performer, powering over for four superb tries, while wingers Dinal Ekanayake and Gayan Perera completed hat tricks.
Fly half Asiri Seneviratne opened the scoring with a line breaking try in the sixth minute, converted by fullback Shahid Zumri. The floodgates then opened as Ekanayake and Perera touched down in the 10th and 12th minutes respectively to give Kandy a 19-0 lead, before Gunaratne slotted Sri Lions’ only points four minutes later.
Ekanayake crossed again in the 18th minute to secure the bonus point, followed by an unconverted try from centre Akash Madusanka in the 26th minute as Kandy extended their lead to 29-3. Ekanayake and Wickramaarachchi added further unconverted tries before the interval to send Kandy into half time with a commanding 39-3 advantage.
The champions showed no mercy after the restart, adding eight more tries. Flanker Thainru Wewala Panditha scored in the 50th minute, before centre Dilukshan Dange joined the scoring, with Zumri converting both efforts.
Perera then struck twice in quick succession, with one conversion added, stretching the lead to 65-3. Wickramaarachchi completed a memorable performance by crossing for three more tries, while replacement fly half Rivin Baudaveen handled the conversions. Veteran centre Danushka Ranjan capped the rout with an unconverted try as Kandy sealed an emphatic 91-3 victory.