In a display of grit, tactical discipline, and signature flair, Kandy Sports Club secured their berth in the semi-finals with a hard-fought victory over a resilient Army Sports Club side at the Nittawela Rugby Stadium yesterday.
The soldiers made a high-hanging kick-off to commence the proceedings under the bright Kandy sky. Kandy made an early error as they caught an accidental offside play while trying to send the ball wide. But the soldiers’ count made the early advantage into points as they made a silly knock-on.
During the initial minutes of the game, the Army fullback made a fine clearance kick from inside their own 22-metre mark after the Kandy kicker misjudged a kick at touch. The kick went right into Kandy’s 22-metre area. Though Yuan Pathirana managed to backpedal and secure the possession, the soldiers chased well by applying tremendous pressure. Hence, he was caught for not releasing the ball at the deck. After earning a five-metre lineout, the Army attacked through a well-constructed rolling maul. While Kandy forwards tried their best to drive it over the right corner, the soldiers did well to stay inside the field of play. While a high tackle advantage was in the pocket, powering forward, Vinod Kumar took the first blood of the game by bringing the Kandy crowd into an utter silence. Though the army place kicker did a good job from a difficult angle with the conversion, unluckily the ball hit the right upright bar and went away. (Kandy 00-05 Army)
After some time, the Kandy players settled down and executed a fine attack. Their immense pressure created opportunities for the hosts as the soldiers conceded multiple penalties. Hence Kandy advanced into a good attacking position, as they got a lineout inside the red zone of the Army. It was followed by a driving maul, and slowly but surely Kandy forwards kept moving until Kenula Hettiarachchi crossed the whitewash. Again, the conversion hit the upright bar and bounced back onto the field. (Kandy 05 – 05 Army)
Later, the hosts received a scrum in their favour as the Army made a knock-on inside their own half. Then the Kandy launched a three-quarters-led attack and advanced by crossing the opposition’s 22-metre line. Suddenly, the 20-year-old Tongan, Salesi Havea, made a statement on why he was brought to Sri Lanka by getting away from four tacklers and running past the entire Army defence to score an unchallenged under-the-post try. Then Anura Perera made the easy conversion to extend the lead. (Kandy 12 – 05 Army)
After a calm period, the soldiers ambushed Kandy territory by displaying their physical strength and attacking flair. In the meantime, Kandy was caught for a tackler not releasing the player on offence. After taking a quick tap, the visitors launched a seamless attack until Dhanushka Thalwatte planted a magnificent diving try at the right corner flag to open up the game again. (Kandy 12 – 10 Army)
Then Kandy set the tone for another score by earning a lineout inside the Army territory after a clearance kick. After a few heavy blows on the defensive line, the ball was sent wide towards the left corner. Suddenly, the fullback Yuwan Pathirana showed a dummy pass towards the winger Kavindu Perera and went through from the left corner by foxing the Army defence. This time Aruna Perera made a magnificent conversion from a harsh angle to extend the lead amid the roar of the diehard Kandy fans. (Kandy 19 – 10 Army)
During the final fifteen minutes of this high-octane encounter, both sides failed to score, though they had some real chances. When the referee Ishanka Abeykoon blew the short whistle, the hosts asserted a nine-point lead, but still it was anybody’s game.
Halftime: Kandy SC 19 (3 T, 2 C) – Army SC 10 (2 T)
Kandy started the second half with a deep kick, and straightaway a clearance kick came from the Army to get out of jail. After a minute, the soldiers initiated a superb attack after they received a lineout throw right on the centre mark. Then the second rower, Manjula Weerasinghe, made a fine breakthrough towards the opposition’s 22-metre mark. Later, the try scorer Vinod Kumar covered some valuable metres by barging his way towards the whitewash by dragging a few Kandy defenders. After the play advanced near to the try line, the Army made a few quick and short passes, and Ijaz Ahammed, who was overlapped, dived near the right corner flag to bring a superb start to the second half as far as the Army’s point of view was concerned. (Kandy 19 – 15 Army)
At this point of the game, Kandy had a nervous time, as they never expected to have such a close game. By worsening their stance, the army received a penalty for an off-the-feet play at a ruck. Though the soldiers went for the points, Lahiru Rathnayake’s miserable day continued as he failed to find the correct angle.
After some time, Kandy came to a good attacking position as they received a lineout throw inside the opposition’s 22-metre mark. But continuing Kandy’s weaknesses in the lineouts, which shattered their momentum throughout the league, again Kandy made a total mess by throwing the ball right into the hands of an Army player. But luckily Kandy recycled the possession courtesy of a knock-on by the Army. Since then the Kandy three-quarters attacked well, like a shiver of sharks who smelt the blood. With some magnificent passes, better insight into the game and brilliant supporting play, the fly half Asiri Senevirathne crossed the whitewash from in front of the Kandy clubhouse like a hot knife which went through the butter. (Kandy 24 – 15 Army)
After having a nine-point cushion again, the Kandy outfit looked more threatening and solid against the soldiers. After a fine passage of attacking rugby, the Army made a mistake that most probably cost the game for the soldiers, as they were penalised in front of the posts for not releasing the ball carrier. Anura Perera, who had a fairly better day as far as Kandy’s previous outings were concerned, nailed the penalty. (Kandy 27 – 15 Army)
At the brink of the long whistle, the soldiers launched a do-or-die mission to earn some respect by planting a consolation try after reaching the red zone of the hosts. But the Kandy defence was unshaken, and they did well enough to prevent the Army from scoring.
Full-time: Kandy SC 27 (4 T, 2 C, 1 P) – Army SC 15 (3 T)
- Swisstek Perfect Player of the Match – Yuwan Pathirana
Points Breakdown
Kandy SC – 27 (4T, 2C, 1 P)
Kenula Hettiarachchi 1 T, Salesi Havea 1 T, Yuwan Pathirana 1 T, Asiri Senevirathne 1 T, Anura Perera 2 C, 1 P
Army Rugby – 15 (3 T)
Vinod Kumar 1 T, Danushka Thalwatte 1 T, Ijaz Ahamed 1 T
