Week 08 of the Maliban Inter-Club Rugby League 2025/26 marked the first full round of action in the New Year, with title contenders laying down strong markers as the competition gathered momentum. CH & FC and Kandy Sports Club maintained their unbeaten runs with composed performances under pressure, while CR & FC delivered a statement win at Longdon Place to stay firmly in the title conversation. Meanwhile, Police Sports Club edged past Navy in a scrappy but crucial encounter, highlighting the growing intensity across the league as the season moves into its decisive phase.
Late CH & FC surge breaks Army resistance
Full Time: Sri Lanka Army SC 25 – CH & FC 43
Sri Lanka Army SC made a powerful start through their forwards, with Buddhi Sreemantha opening the scoring before Vinod Kumar crossed soon after following sustained pick-and-go pressure. Missed conversions limited the hosts to a 10 – 0 lead, before CH & FC hit back with quickfire tries from Maliksha Perera and Kavindu Yasas, both converted by Yasas, to edge ahead. Lahiru Thilakartna then broke away from a dominant scrum to score, but Army stayed in touch as Vinod Kumar crossed again from a quick tap, with Dinesh Victor converting to make it 19 – 17 at the break in favour of the visitors.
>>Stellar performance by Thenuka Nanayakkara drives CR & FC to a commanding victory at Longdon Place
CH & FC secured their bonus point early in the second half when replacement Prasath Madushanka exploited the blindside off a five-metre lineout. Army responded through Vinod Kumar, who completed his hat-trick, before Victor added a penalty to briefly hand the Soldiers a 25–24 lead as the contest tightened.
The Gymkhana Club finished strongly in the final quarter, with Devinda Rathnayake breaking through before Janith Chandimal added a late try and conversion. Madushanka sealed the result in the dying moments with his second try from a rolling maul, as CH & FC pulled away to register another bonus-point win.
Swisstek Perfect Player of the Match: Devinda Rathnayake (CH & FC)
CR & FC reignite Title push with convincing win
Full Time: CR & FC 33 – Havelock SC 14
Kandy Sports Club delivered a ruthless attacking masterclass at Longdon Place, dismantling the Sri Lions Sports Club with relentless pace, power, and precision.
The champions struck early and never relented, with their backs slicing through defensive gaps and the forwards dominating set-piece and maul situations. Dinal Ekanayake and Gayan Perera caused constant problems out wide, while Dahan Wickramarachchi led the charge up front with a devastating all-round performance.
>>CH&FC maintain unbeaten tag with a late rally in Panagoda
The Sri Lions managed to register points through a first-half penalty, but Kandy’s tempo only increased after the break. Waves of attacks followed, the rolling maul proved unstoppable, and the visitors piled on tries from across the park to underline their title credentials in emphatic fashion.
Swisstek Player of the Match: Thenuka Nanayakkara (CR & FC)
Kandy weather late Air Force fightback
Full Time: Air Force SC 22 – Kandy SC 36
Kandy SC asserted their authority early through a powerful forward display, opening the scoring via hooker Dilshan Fareed from a rolling maul. Tries from Dinal Ekanayake, Heshan Jansen and Dhanushka Ranjan followed, with Asiri Senevirathne converting key scores to give the champions a commanding Half Time advantage after Wickramarachchi also crossed from close range.
>>Kandy too strong for Air Force as unbeaten run continues
The visitors continued their dominance early in the second half when Kavindu Perera finished off another sustained attack, again converted by Senevirathne. Air Force finally responded through flanker Isuru Jayarathne, who gathered a loose lineout ball to score, before hooker Shamika Kaushan crossed twice from rolling mauls as the Airmen found momentum late.
Despite the late surge, Kandy’s early damage proved decisive as they held firm to remain unbeaten heading into a heavyweight clash next week.
Swisstek Player of the Match: Heshan Jansen (Kandy SC)
Police hold nerve to secure crucial win
Full Time: Police SC 14 – Navy SC 10
Police SC struck first against the run of play when winger Sujan Kodithuwakku ran a sharp line to score, with Prince Chamara converting. Navy replied through a Thilina Weerasinghe penalty before Isuru Kongahawatta caught the defence napping with a quick pick-and-go try, converted by Weerasinghe, to hand the Sailors a narrow Half Time lead.
>>Police scrap past Navy in disjoint affair
The hosts regained control early in the second half when Chamara took a quick tap close to the line to score and convert his own try, pushing Police back in front. Both sides struggled with handling and discipline as the match became increasingly disjointed.
Neither team managed to add further points as Police defended resolutely in the closing stages to secure their second win of the season.
Swisstek Perfect Player of the Match: Mohan Wimalarathne (Police SC)
The upcoming Week 09 fixtures are as follows:
- Havelock Sports Club vs CH & FC – Havelock Park (09 Jan)
- Siri Lions Sports Club vs Air Force Sports Club – LongdonPlace (10 Jan)
- Sri Lanka Army vs Navy Sports Club CR & FC – Panagoda (10 Jan)
- Kandy Sports Club vs CR & FC – Nittawela (11 Jan)
All matches are scheduled for kick-off at 3.30 PM.
