Kandy SC rampage past Havelocks
Kandy SC went down to 14 men 16 minutes before full-time, yet proved that a clinical approach, rather than panic, could reap dividends in their six-try victory, which included three conversions and two penalties. Havelocks, who stunned CR&FC last weekend with a gritty 28-14 win, were overpowered by the defending champions and managed only two converted tries and a penalty.
Fullback Shahid Zumri on his way to score Kandy's sixth try of the game - Pic by Eshan Fernando
Fullback Hirusha Sampath slotted a penalty in the seventh minute, giving Kandy an early 3-0 lead, but Havelocks soon switched gears to put their opponents under pressure. The home side was on the verge of scoring, with the tryline in sight, but winger Dinal Ekanayake made a brilliant interception to stun the crowd, taking the ball coast-to-coast to score in the 10th minute. Sampath’s conversion extended Kandy’s lead to 10-0.
Havelocks continued their onslaught, but were again thwarted by Ekanayake, who covered the entire field for his second try in a carbon-copy move in the 24th minute. With Kandy leading 15-0 after a missed conversion, they received a further advantage when Havelocks centre Junior Visesio was shown a yellow card in the 27th minute.
However, the numerical advantage did not yield the expected result. Despite being a man down, Havelocks scored during Visesio’s 10-minute absence, with fullback Nabeel Yahiya slotting a penalty in the 29th minute and converting a try by hooker Azmir Fajudeen in the 34th minute. Though Kandy led 15-10 at half-time, Havelocks had the momentum and the means to stage a remarkable comeback after the break.
Kandy, however, raised their game in the second half. Veteran fly-half Srinath Sooriyabandara made a stunning break to score a converted try in the 46th minute, followed by another brilliant effort from centre Diluksha Dange in the 52nd minute. With Sampath’s conversion, Kandy extended their lead to 27-10. Havelocks struck back when centre Vanuki Waqanibau breached the defence to score a try in the 55th minute, which Yahiya converted, leaving them still trailing 17-27.
After Dange was sent off for a high tackle in the 64th minute, Havelocks were expected to dominate a 14-man Kandy side, but the title holders proved otherwise. They held Havelocks at bay, posting two more tries, a conversion, and a penalty, to the shock of the Havelock Park crowd, closing out a commanding 42-17 victory.
Scrum-half Heshan Jansen showcased his athleticism by evading several defenders to score in the 69th minute, with Sampath adding the conversion. Replacement fullback Shahid Zumri slotted a penalty in the 73rd minute and completed a brilliant move he initiated in the 76th minute to finish Kandy’s six-try tally.