Defending champions Kandy Sports Club delivered a composed and clinical performance to defeat Havelock Sports Club 42–17 in their Super Round Cup Segment clash of the Maliban Inter-Club ‘A’ Division Rugby League 2025/26, played at Havelock Park, as the visitors tightened their grip on a Cup Final spot.
It took the visitors seven minutes to open the scoring when Havelocks No.08 Udara Lakshan was penalised for offside. Although Hirusha Sampath’s first attempt at goal in the third minute went astray, the fly-half made no mistake with the subsequent kick, bisecting the uprights to draw first blood.(Havelocks 00-03 Kandy)
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Despite conceding early, Havelocks responded by earning a penalty and kicking to touch before launching a sustained attack through their forwards. After several phases of pick-and-drives, the ball was sent wide, but a long cut pass from Samuel Maduwantha was perfectly read and intercepted by Dinal Ekanayake, who sprinted 75 meters to dot down under the posts, with Sampath converting to extend Kandy’s early lead.(Havelocks 00-10 Kandy)
Havelocks continued to build pressure but stumbled at the final hurdle, fumbling possession just five meters from the line. From the ensuing scrum, Kandy capitalised ruthlessly. Akash Madushanka, acting as first receiver, tore through multiple defenders with a powerful carry before holding his run and releasing Ekanayake, who completed another full-length effort with a 60-metre dash to the line for his second try of the afternoon.(Havelocks 00-15 Kandy)
The Park Club suffered another setback when Amituanai Visesio was shown yellow for a high tackle following a TMO review. Despite being a man down, Havelocks opened their account when Kandy were penalized at the breakdown, allowing replacement fullback Nabeel Yahiya to slot a penalty.(Havelocks 03-17 Kandy)
Just before halftime, Havelocks clawed their way back into the contest. A penalty kicked to touch set the platform, and this time the lineout and maul functioned perfectly, with hooker Azmir Fajudeen crashing over from the back of the drive. Yahiya added the conversion to reduce the deficit to five points at the break.
Half Time: Havelock Sports Club 10 (1T, 1C,1P) – Kandy SC 15 (2T, 1C, 1P)
Kandy began the second half in emphatic fashion. A rolling maul from a line-out carried play from the 40-meter mark deep into Havelocks’ territory before it was illegally brought down. From the recycled possession, Diluksha Dange produced a clever offload to the ever-influential Srinath Sooriyabandara, who spotted a gap and sliced through the Havies defense to score Kandy’s third try. (Havelocks 10-20 Kandy)
The visitors maintained the momentum moments later. Opting for the corner again, the maul drew in defenders before the ball was shifted to Sooriyabandara, who combined sharply with Dange. The centre’s powerful carry proved too much to handle as he barged over for the bonus-point try, with Sampath adding the extras.(Havelocks 10-27 Kandy)
Havelocks hit back after forcing possession through an aggressive counter-ruck. A rolling maul from the resulting lineout brought them deep into Kandy’s red zone, and after a couple of pick-and-drive phases, Vunaki Waqanibau powered over. Yahiya’s conversion kept the hosts within touching distance.(Havelocks 17-27 Kandy)
Kandy then suffered a setback when try-scorer Diluksha Dange was shown a red card for a high tackle following a TMO check. However, the defending champions showed their composure and class despite being reduced to fourteen.
From a scrum inside their own 22, Kandy executed a superb set move. Kavindu Perera broke the gain line before linking with Dinal Ekanayake, whose quick hands stretched the defence. Two crisp passes later, scrum-half Heshan Jansen went over untouched, with Sampath converting once more.(Havelocks 17-34 Kandy)
Kandy continued to punish Havies indiscipline as replacement fullback Shaheed Zumri slotted a penalty before producing a moment of brilliance minutes later. A long pass found Akash Madushanka charging into space, and the centre returned the favour with a perfectly timed inside ball for Zumri, who strolled over to seal the final try of the match.
The comprehensive victory sees Kandy Sports Club inch closer to a Cup Final appearance as the Super Round heads into its decisive phase.
Full Time: Havelock Sports Club 17 (2T, 2C,1P) – Kandy SC 42 (6T, 3C, 2P)
Havelock Sports Club 17
Azmir Fajudeen 1T, Vunaki Waqanibau 1T, Nabeel Yahiya 2C, 1P
Kandy Sports Club 42
Dinal Ekanayake 2T, Srinath Sooriyabandara 1T, Diluksha Dange 1T,Heshan Jansen 1T, Shaheed Zumri 1T,1C, Hirusha Sampath 3C, 1P
