Kandy Rugby 10s’ kicked off this Saturday under the patronage of secretary of sports ministry at one of the picturesque stadium in Hill Country, Bogambara Rugby Stadium.
Photo Album – Kandy Rugby 10’s
Kandy Rugby Academy organized this tournament to commemorate their first anniversary. The Academy was invented on 20th of September 2014 with the intention of developing junior Rugby in Central Province. KRA has been able to reach over 30 schools around hill country and interest over 300 kids to take up Rugby as a sport within a year. Running a successful 1st year, KRA has come up with celebrating their 1st anniversary in style with this Rugby carnival.
Vidyartha and Kandy Rugby Academy were the two teams that shone on both the days. Vidyartha Rugby Academy clinched the Cup finals u14 and runners up in u16 and u18 while Kandy Rugby Academy was able to seal the victory in u16 while became the runners up in u14.
U-14
The lads from Vidyartha who showcased some fascinating team work got through to the Cup final easily beating Thurstan Rugby Academy 15-nil. Kandy Rugby Academy took on the HARFA Greens in the semi final where both the teams were unable to accumulate even a single point in both the halves where officials decided to give 3 kicks for each team to decide the winner. A player of Kandy Rugby Academy kicked the oval shaped ball in the final attempt to reserve their place in final.
Thurstan’s K.B.Akash who kept a try just few minutes before the final whistle was able to win the plate championship beating HARFA Greens.
Vidyartha faced the home team KRA in the Cup final. Both teams were unable to tick the scorecards in 1st half while it was speedster Gihan of Vidyartha scored the deciding try on the first minute of second half’s play. KRA was not strong enough to beat the defense of Vidyartha where game ended up 5-nil. Sahan Chirantha Gunatilake of Vidyartha was awarded the best player.
U-16
KRA hills and Vidyartha qualified for the finals after ranking in top two in first round. It was an easy win for the home side where troublemaker for scorecards Makarim started to trouble again by a fabulous sprint towards the try line to score his 1st try of the match. Few minutes passed in the 2nd half and Oshadha of KRA hills kept his team’s hopes high with an easy try as he had not much work to do as the ball fell in close proximity to the try line. Yet again Makarim who showed some skillful rugby was able to tick the board with another try in the final minute which ended 15-nil in favor of KRA hills. Speedster Makarim was awarded the best player for his outstanding performance.
U-18
Vidyartha and Highlanders were facing in the deciding final game after ranking top on the table. None of the teams troubled the scorecard in the 1st half as teams’ defense was looking great. Soon after the 2nd half whistle the performer of the day Gihan Malinga gave hopes to his team Highlanders by sprinting a splendid run towards the try line which followed by an easy conversion by Gihan Ishara where Vidyartha were not fit enough to give a fight to the 7 points in the remaining minutes. Best player was awarded to Gihan Malinga for his classic tries.
Open
Kandurata and Singha Regiment were the teams qualified for the final beating the Old Sylvester’s and HARFA Green 12-nil and 22-nil respectively.
Just before the final whistle of 1st half in the final match of the day, Singha Regiment’s Madhushanka scored the first try of the game to take the lead. The game was almost in the Singha Regiment’s side where as they were very skillful and defensive until the last minute. Chamuka Nalindu of Kandurata pulled a Singha Regiment defended- off to level the score at the last minute. The wing of Singha Regiment scored a try in the deciding extra minute play to take the silverware home. Ratnaweera of Singha Regiment awarded the best player for his master class performance.
