A complete performance from the defending champions Kandy Sports Club saw them humiliate Army sports club 64 points to 19 in their Dialog Rugby league encounter worked off at Nittawela today.
Kandy Sports Club just took only 4 minutes to open up the scoring as newly recruited winger Buddima Piyarathne broke the Army defense with a scintillating run before quick hands from the forwards opened up plenty of room for the fullback Thilina Wijesinghe to run through the struggling Army defense and canter across the whitewash. Wijesinghe managed to convert his try to make it a perfect 7. (KANDY 07 – 00 ARMY)
Kandy looked threatening every time they had the possession and it was Tharinda Ratwatte who dealt the killer blow next. The former Trinity College Skipper sprung through the hole created in the Army defense and silky hands from Thilina Wijesinghe managed to send Kavindu Perera through for a try on the left wing. (KANDY 12 – 00 ARMY)
A few phases later, skipper Nigel Ratwatte spotted space beyond Thilina Wijesinghe and threw a long pass to the flanker Shehan Pathirana and Piyarathne came accelerating up on his outside before leaving Isuru Madagedara for dead on the inside to score the third try for the champions. (KANDY 19 – 00 ARMY)
The Army discipline folded under pressure as Dhanushka Thalawaththa saw yellow for a high tackle and Wijesinghe landed the three-pointer with ease to increase the lead. Tries kept coming as Danush Dayan exposed the Army midfield defense by stepping past a few defenders and linking up with the forwards for few quick phases as Jason Dissanayake dived over from two meters out for the bonus point. (KANDY 29 – 00 ARMY)
Kandy continued on with their fast open brand of rugby as the backs yet again combined for a superlative try as Thilina Wijesinghe went over for his second on the brink of half time.
Half Time – KANDY SC 36 (5T,4C,1P) – ARMY SC 00
Amid a frustrating first-half spectacle Army started brightly in the second half as their Fijian Centre Tomasi Caqusau bulldozed his way over from close range and Gayan Salinda quickly landed the conversion. (KANDY 36 – 07 ARMY)
Tries kept on coming for the hill capital team as Tharinda Ratwatte and Buddima Piyarathne went over the whitewash in quick succession and Thilina Wijesinghe added the extras with ease. (KANDY 50 – 07 ARMY)
Army built up play through a few phases by using their forwards and they eventually got their second try when Nalan Premanath dived through a gap to dot the ball down at full stretch. Gayan Salinda kept his 100% kicking success in tact as he bisected uprights from a difficult angle. (KANDY 50 – 14 ARMY)
Kandy fans were treated to some fascinating rugby as the Winger Buddima Piyarathne went over for his third try, piercing the fragile visiting defense to score. A few phases later Jason Dissanayake wriggled his way through would be tacklers to score the 9th try for Kandy while Wijesinghe continued his good form with the tee as he converted both of the tries.
Kandy went down to fourteen in the last five minutes when Jason Dissanayake saw yellow and Army took advantage of their numerical superiority when Thusitha Senanayake went over in the corner in the last move of the game.
Full Time – KANDY SC 64 (9T,8C,1P) – ARMY SC 19 (3T,2C)
- Dialog Viu Player of the Match – Thilina Wijesinghe (Kandy SC)
- Match Referee – Aaqil Jamaldeen
Breakdown
KANDY SC: Tries from Thilina Wijesinghe (2), Kavindu Perera, Buddima Piyarathne (3), Jason Dissanayake (2), Tharinda Ratwatte, conversion (8) and penalty by Thilina Wijesinghe
ARMY SC: Tries from Tomasi Caqusau, Nalan Premanath, Thusitha Senanayake and conversion (2) by Gayan Salinda
Cautions & Send offs:
KANDY SC: Jason Dissanayake (Yellow)
ARMY SC: Dhanushka Thalawaththa (Yellow)
