CR & FC held their nerve to edge defending champions Kandy Sports Club 17 – 15 in a thrilling Super Round encounter of the Maliban Inter-Club ‘A’ Division Rugby League 2025/26 at Longdon Place, sealing a home Grand Final berth, where they will face the same opponents next week.
Kandy playmaker Srinath Sooriyabandara got proceedings underway in front of a packed house, but the visitors were immediately penalised for a no-arms tackle. CR & FC opted to take the early points; however, the attempt drifted wide and came to rest near the try line, forcing Kandy to play from deep inside their own territory under immense pressure.
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Pinned near their line, the visitors struggled to clear. Gayan Perera was then penalised for a cynical offside tackle on an incoming CR player at the ruck and was sent to the sin bin, leaving Kandy to defend with 14 men. CR dominated both territory and possession during this period, playing almost exclusively inside the Kandy half, yet the defending champions showed remarkable resilience to keep the home side scoreless.
The breakthrough finally came in the 20th minute through a moment of individual brilliance. From midfield, CR moved the ball wide, and a high floating pass from Kushan Tharindu found Pasindu Bandara. With dazzling footwork, Bandara left Dinal Ekanayake grasping at air and beat the cover defence of Sooriyabandara to touch down. Thenuka Nanayakkara added the conversion to give CR a deserved lead. (CR 07 – 00 Kandy)
Kandy responded around the half-hour mark after forcing a breakdown penalty through excellent defensive work led by Kavindu Perera. Opting for the corner, they set up a rolling maul. Although Kenula Hettiarachchi was initially stopped by CR defense, the pressure told in the next phase when the powerful Salesi Havea crashed over, reducing the deficit to just two points. (CR 07 – 05 Kandy)
Tensions rose just before Half Time when Kandy No. 08 Dahan Wickramarachchi was shown a yellow card for a high tackle on Mursheed Zubair following a lengthy TMO review. With the visitors were reduced to 14 men once again, the contest remained finely poised at the break, separated by only two points.
Half Time: CR & FC 07 (1T, 1C) – Kandy SC 05 (1T)
The home side began the second half strongly after a sweeping move saw Kushan Tharindu slice through the Kandy defensive line. His final pass to Chemod Muthunayake did not go to hand, but CR retained possession and mounted pressure through a series of close-quarter phases while playing under an offside advantage. Opting for a quick tap, Enesi Waqanisau powered his way through multiple defenders to crash over for the try, with Thenuka Nanayakkara adding the conversion to extend the lead. (CR 14 – 05 Kandy)
A moment of ill-discipline from Naveen Marasinghe handed Kandy an opportunity to respond when he was penalised for a Foul Play. The visitors kicked to the corner and set up a rolling maul, which was illegally collapsed by CR Skipper Lasindu Karunathilake, resulting in a yellow card. Reduced to 13 men, CR found themselves under immense pressure as momentum swung sharply in Kandy’s favour. From the ensuing maul, Buwanaka Udangamuwa drove over from the back to score, narrowing the gap to four points. (CR 14 – 10 Kandy)
CR continued to concede penalties, allowing Kandy to return to the corner once more. Sustained forward pressure and quick phases stretched the defence before Shahid Zumri spotted space around the fringe. Taking a quick tap, he caught the defence off guard and crossed the line to score Kandy’s third try, giving the visitors the lead for the first time in the match. (CR 14-15 Kandy)
With full time approaching, Kandy conceded a crucial breakdown penalty. CR opted for the posts, and Thenuka Nanayakkara held his nerve to slot the kick and reclaim the lead.
Kandy launched one final assault in the dying moments, earning a penalty and kicking to the corner in search of a decisive score. However, the lineout was brilliantly stolen by Ravindu Anjula — echoing his decisive intervention at Nittawela earlier in the season — to secure a dramatic victory for CR & FC. The two sides will meet again at the same venue next week in what promises to be a blockbuster Final.
Full Time: CR & FC 17 (2T, 2C, 1P) – Kandy SC 15 (3T)
Swisstek Player of the Match: Mursheed Zubair (CR & FC)
Points Breakdown
CR & FC 17
Pasindu Bandara 1T, Enesi Waqanisau 1T, Thenuka Nanayakkara 2C, 1P
Kandy SC 15
Salesi Havea 1T, Buwanaka Udangamuwa 1T, Shaheed Zumri 1T
