After a controversial and heartbreaking tie against CH on their home soil, Kandy SC came back again into winning ways after securing a thumping 91 – 03 victory over the young Sri Lions outfit in the fifth-week clash of the Maliban Inter-Club ‘A’ Division Rugby League 2025/26, held at Longdon Place.
The visitors, Kandy SC, started things with a high hanging and deep kickoff, and the Sri Lions got out of jail with a counter kick. In reply, Kandy went for a short but high-hanging kick. It was followed by a good chase, but the Kandy player was caught for an offside play. Without any hesitation, the Sri Lions went for the points, but the regulation chance went astray.
Later, the Kandy SC three-quarters initiated a fantastic passage of play, and then Shahid Zumri took two defenders and switched the ball to the blindside winger Gayan Perera. After a fascinating play between Gayan Perera, Suranga Thennakoon and Dhanushka Ranjan with brilliant handling and supportive play, Asiri Senevirathna finally went over the line for the first blood of the game. Shaheed Zumri of Kandy SC nailed the conversion to extend the lead. (KSC 07 – 00 SL)
After a minute, the Sri Lions gave away a penalty at the midway mark for not releasing the ball, as Akash Madushanka, who was the tackler at the tackle, grabbed the ball like an eagle. Hence a lineout followed, and while the maul was moving forward, the ball switched to the scrum-half, Suranga Thennakoon. He executed a copybook scissor pass to Dinal Ekanayake, who deceived the defence and went for an under-the-post try. (KSC 14 – 00 SL)
Later, Shahid Zumri managed to steal a knocked-on ball, which was inside their own half, and made a fabulous sprint to the Sri Lions territory. Once he caught up with a tackle, he offloaded it to winger Gayan Perera through a magnificent one-handed pass. Then Gayan went all the way from the corner to score the third try in no time. (KSC 19 – 00 SL)
The ill-disciplined play of Kandy SC came to the spotlight again as Sri Lions received a penalty for not rolling away after tackling. Nathan Gunarathne made no mistake with the kick and drew the first blood. (KSC 19-03 SL)
Straightaway from the restart, Kandy recovered the ball, and their forwards gallantly moved forward and made some good metres for the visitors. Then the ball worked from left to right and created an overlap. There, the open side winger Dinal Ekanayake accelerated and crossed the line for the second occasion by giving the bonus point inside 18 minutes of play. (KSC 24 – 03 SL)
Later, the Sri Lions received a penalty as Kandy were penalised for using their hands in the ruck. But another opportunity for the Sri Lions went begging. Then Kandy launched their iconic counterattack at a lightning pace and showcased remarkable support play, which was coupled with magnificent handling. Their magnificent passage of play got paid as Akash Madhushanka touched down for the fifth try. (KSC 29-03 SL)
Later, Dahan Wikramarachchi made a superb break, and Kandy SC forwards tried out some three-quarters’ stuff by sprinting and passing deep into Sri Lions territory. While the ball switched to the line, Dinal Ekanayake completed a typical winger’s try after running around the defence and cutting back inside to plant an under-the-post try. (KSC 34 – 03 SL)
A few minutes later, Kandy SC forwards came to the party when they had a lineout in their favour at the inside of the 22-metre area of the hosts. Kandy formed a maul, and they bulldozed their way as the No. 08 Dahan Wikramarachchi made a break from behind to plant another try. (KSC 39 – 03 SL)
During the dying stage of the first half, the host had a golden opportunity to score a try as they came closer to the whitewash, but the butterfingers prevented them from scoring, and the players went for the lemons with the short whistle.
Half Time: Kandy SC 39 (7 T, 2 C) – 03 Sri Lions SC (1 P)
Sri Lions made the kickoff in the second half, and they put in a valiant effort to put in the first score of the half. But the defence line of Kandy SC was unshaken and stood tall against the attack of the hosts. Later, Kandy SC took possession back from inside their opposition’s half, courtesy of poor handling work by the hosts. After having a solid scrum, Kandy launched an attack towards the left side of the field and suddenly changed direction. In the meantime, the flanker, Wewala Panditha, spotted a gap and went through to plant the eighth try with a diving effort in joy. This time Zumri made no mistake with the conversion. (KSC 46 – 03 SL)
A few moments later, Kandy earned a five-metre lineout after the Sri Lions were penalised for offside play. The lineout was followed with a well-formed rolling maul, but the Sri Lions had no choice but to stop it rather than collapse it. While there was a penalty advantage, Kandy SC worked the ball brilliantly, and Dinuksha Dange crossed over for a staggering try from the right corner. Zumri nailed the conversion by displaying his best bootwork of the day from quite a difficult angle. (KSC 53 – 03 SL)
Suddenly, the Kandy forwards went on a rampage over the field and showcased an exceptional attacking flair and their pure power. After a remarkable rolling maul and pick-and-go play, the ball was transferred to the three-quarters, and Kandy SC winger Gayan Perera easily crossed the tryline from the far left corner. (KSC 58-03 SL)
The Kandy three-quarters couldn’t keep away from their after-Xmas party, where they really enjoyed themselves and showcased another masterpiece, with Gayan Perera completing his hat-trick of tries. On this occasion the placekicker, Zumri, was successful with the conversion after his bad patch. (KSC 65 – 03 SL)
A few minutes later, Sri Lions player Dulaj Navodya had an opportunity to rest as he was sin-binned for a dangerous play, and things went from bad to worse for the hosts as they were reduced to 14 men. To try out all the skills under their belt, Kandy opted for a scrum after receiving the penalty. Eventually, the Kandy Lions easily pushed the scrum over the line, and Dahan Wikramarachchi crossed for the second time of the day. The ex-Kingswood player and rising star of Kandy SC, Rivin Baudween, was successful with his first conversion attempt. (KSC 72 – 03 SL)
Seamlessly, the Kandy forwards kept performing well and triggered another attack along with some powerful handoffs while carrying the ball. After receiving another 5-metre lineout, without any hesitation, Kandy opted for a maul, which they were brilliant with today, and within a few seconds, Dahan Wickramarachchi completed a hat-trick by dragging a couple of defenders. Baudween was accurate again with his kicking duties by giving a strong message to his coach, who was searching for some medicine to heal the kicking issues of the club. (KSC 79 – 03 SL)
Then the front rower, Charles Praveen, received the ball on the 10-metre line and made an exceptional break just like a centre three-quarter. After the sprint he took the last defender and unselfishly offloaded the ball to the supporting player, Dahan Wickramarachchi, who completed his fourth try with a diving effort exactly under the crossbar. Kandy SC’s saga continued with the Baudweens under post-conversion. (KSC 86 – 03 SL)
After the referee, Nalin Lasantha, called for the final move of the game, Kandy was still hungry to end the game with another try. Suranga Thennakoon gave them the anticipated breakthrough through the defence line, and he sprinted towards the tryline, but the Sri Lions fullback did well enough to prevent him from scoring. However, the ball was thrown back, and the veteran Dhanushka Ranjan, who was waiting like a hungry lion throughout his tenure in the field, grabbed the opportunity and went over for his first try. (KSC 91 – 03 SL)
Baudween failed to add the extras from the conversion kick, which came from a difficult angle, and it was followed by the long whistle.
Full Time: Kandy SC 91 (15 T, 8 C) – Sri Lions SC 03 (1 P)
- Swisstek Player of the Match: Dahan Wickramarachchi (Kandy SC)
Points Breakdown
Kandy Sports Club – 91
Asiri Senevirathna 1 T, Dinal Ekanayake 3 T, Gayan Perera 3 T, Akash Madhushanka 1 T, Dahan Wickrmarachchi 4 T, Wewala Panditha 1 T, Dinuksha Dange 1 T, Dhanushka Ranjan 1 T, Shaahid Zumri 5 C, Rivin Baudween 3 C
Sri Lions Sports Club – 03
Nathan Gunarathne 1 P
