Kandy SC survive Army challenge to secure semi-final berth
After two gruelling weekend clashes in the recently concluded league, which had yielded successive narrow defeats, an unsettled Kandy Sports Club managed to overcome a spirited Army Sports Club outfit, claiming a hard-fought 27-15 victory in the quarter-final of the SLR-Maliban Clifford Cup Knockout Championship 2025/26 at Nittawela yesterday.
The hosts, who had concluded their SLR-Maliban Club Rugby League 2025/26 campaign in a heartbreaking manner, surrendering their title and finishing as runners-up, looked well-set at the outset. However, the number of errors they committed in the match—which they won through four tries, two conversions, and a penalty—remains an area Kandy SC will need to address, despite holding a comfortable 19-10 lead at half-time.
Kandy struggled a bit, but overcame Army - File pic
The Soldiers, who unsettled Kandy SC on several occasions, managed to breach their opponents’ defence thrice to score three unconverted tries. They certainly had the potential to pull off a major upset, if not for their own handling mistakes. The match began with the Soldiers asserting themselves, turning over Kandy’s grip to touch down in the fourth minute, when No.8 Vinod Kumar scored an unconverted try for an early 5-0 lead.
Kandy, aware of the risk, retaliated immediately through a running try from hooker Kenula Hettiarachchi in the 10th minute, who brilliantly evaded the entire Army defence. The hosts gradually regained their momentum, as 20-year-old Tongan No.8 Salesi Havea outpaced the Army defence to score in the 21st minute. Scrum-half Aruna Perera converted to extend the lead to 12-5.
The Soldiers briefly responded, with centre Danushka Thotawatte scoring a brilliant running try four minutes later, narrowing the gap to two points. Kandy struck back through centre Yuwan Pathirana’s exceptional try in the 28th minute, which Perera converted, giving the hosts a 19-10 lead at half-time.
After the break, Kandy lost some control, allowing Army SC’s prop Ijaz Ahmed to score, reducing the deficit to 19-15. The visitors continued to apply pressure, but Kandy eventually broke through in the 65th minute when fly-half Asiri Seneviratne ran in an unconverted try to make it 24-15, regaining a comfortable position. Five minutes from the final whistle, Perera slotted a penalty to seal the 27-15 win, ensuring Kandy SC will host Havelocks SC in the semi-final clash tomorrow.