CR & FC delivered a major statement by storming the champions’ den and defeating Kandy Sports Club 25–20 in a rain-soaked, mud-filled thriller during their Week 09 Maliban Inter-Club ‘A’ Division Rugby League 2025/26 encounter at Nittawela.
In a much-anticipated Game of the Week, CR & FC travelled to Kandy to take on the defending champions in front of a packed house. Although Kandy Skipper Srinath Sooriyabandara got proceedings underway, it was the visitors who struck first. In the third minute, Kandy was penalized for offside, allowing Thenuka Nanayakkara to calmly slot a difficult kick under pressure. (Kandy 00 – 03 CR)
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CR continued to apply pressure and were rewarded when Dinal Ekanayake was penalized for holding on. Kicking to the corner, the visitors set up a rolling maul, from which powerful No. 8 Enesi Waqanisau broke away to crash over the line. Nanayakkara added the conversion to extend CR’s early advantage. (Kandy 00 – 10 CR)
Kandy responded through their trusted maul, earning a penalty of their own and kicking to the corner. The drive proved unstoppable, with hooker Dilshan Fareed peeling off the back to score and reduce the deficit. (Kandy 05-10 CR)
The champions soon drew level after building a solid platform through their forwards. Despite the heavy rain, Kandy’s backs produced a moment of brilliance as Kavindu Perera sliced through the line and offloaded to Sooriyabandara, whose neat inside pass sent Dinal Ekanayake over in the corner for Kandy’s second try. (Kandy 10 – 10 CR)
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Handling errors crept in as the rain intensified, and a costly spill by replacement playmaker Shahid Zumri inside the five-meter area handed CR an opportunity. From the ensuing scrum, the visitors worked patiently through their forwards before Naveen Marasinghe powered over. Nanayakkara converted to regain the lead. (Kandy 10 – 17 CR)
On the stroke of Half Time, Kandy was awarded a penalty when CR prop Senura Perera was penalized for not rolling away. Zumri made amends by bisecting the uprights, sending the hosts into the break trailing by just four points.
Half Time: Kandy SC 13 (2T, 1P) – CR & FC 17 (2T, 2C, 1P)
CR & FC burst out of the blocks in the second half, capitalising on an early penalty conceded by Kandy scrum-half Heshan Jansen. Replacement kicker Chathura Senevirathne stepped up and drilled a superb 45-metre penalty to extend the visitors’ lead. Kandy had a chance to respond soon after, but Shahid Zumri’s effort drifted wide. (Kandy 13 – 20 CR)
The visitors continued to play with patience, building through more than a dozen phases before Omalka Gunarathna pierced the Kandy defence to take play into the 22. Quick ball out wide followed, and Mursheed Zubair drew the final defender before releasing Thenuka Nanayakkara, who finished neatly in the corner. (Kandy 13 – 25 CR)
Kandy mounted a late fightback, earning a string of penalties and repeatedly driving from rolling mauls. However, persistent infringements by CR near the line denied the hosts a try, and Referee Raveen Alexander eventually awarded a penalty try, reducing the deficit to five points heading into the final 10 minutes. (Kandy 20 – 25 CR)
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The closing stages produced tense, high-quality Rugby. CR enjoyed the bulk of possession and came agonisingly close to sealing the contest, while Kandy threatened in the final moments. However, a crucial lineout steal by Ravindu Anjula in the dying seconds secured a massive away win for CR & FC, lifting them to the top of the league.
Full Time: – Kandy SC 20 (3T, 1C, 1P) – CR & FC 25 (3T, 2C, 2P)
- Swisstek Player of the Match: Enesi Waqanisau (CR & FC)
Points Breakdown
Kandy SC 20
Dilshan Fareed 1T, Dinal Ekanayake 1T, Shahid Zumri 1P, Penalty try
CR & FC – 25
Enesi Waqanisau 1T, Naveen Marasinghe 1T, Chathura Senevirathne 1P, Thenuka Nanayakkara 1T, 2C, 1P
