Defending league champions Kandy Sports Club registered their second win in as many games, outclassing Police Sports Club by 43 points to 11 in their Dialog A division Rugby league encounter worked off at Police Park this evening. The winners collected their points through 4 Goals and 3 Tries while the home team could only manage to register a Try, a Penalty and a Drop Goal.
Unlike during the previous games seen so far, the weather conditions remained perfect for fast open rugby and the visting Kandy outfit wasted little time in going about their business using their star three quarter line who had a chance to flex their muscles. In virtually what was their first attacking foray into opposition territory, Kandy came away with a try scored by their full back Thilina Wijesinghe. The Kandy forwards made some telling runs before setting up good front foot ball for their backs to run on to. Wijesinghe formed the overlap and added the finishing touches by touching down by the left corner flag. Wijesinghe could not convert his own try but his team had the early lead. (POL 00 – KSC 05).
The home side did show signs of promise with some daring runs of their own. Some good pressure by their backs and forwards earned them a kickable penalty but Fly Half Sandesh Jayawickrama fluffed his attempt at the goal. Instead it was Kandy who went on to increase their lead when Wijesinghe yet again joined the line in attack and cut through the Police defense to score by the posts. Wijesinghe converted his own try and Kandy led by 12. (POL 00 – KSC 12)
Kandy's Thilina Wijesinghe was the top scorer for the day scoring a total of 23 points
Sandesh did make amends for his earlier miss slotting over a much more difficult 30 meter penalty in the 18th minute. The hosts reduced the lead further when Full Back Uthpala Senevirathne was successful in putting over a 25 meter drop goal to drag his team back into the game. (POL 06 – KSC 12).
But as champion teams do, Kandy knocked out the momentum off the hosts, scoring a try almost right after the restart. Police Full back, Uthpala Senevirathne’s grubber down the field only found the hands of Kandy’s Richard Dharmapala who drew the onrushing defense before releasing his skipper Gayan Weerarathne into acres of space. Weerarathne drew the last defender before passing the ball on to Full Back Thilina Wijesinghe who completed probably the fastest hatrick of his career. Wijesinghe rubbed more salt into the Cops wounds by putting over a peach of a conversion from an acute angle and by the 25th minute Kandy looked firmly in control. (POL 06 – KSC 19)
Things only went from bad to worse for the home side as Kandy went on to score two more tries before the break in the 30th and 35th minute through Richard Dharmapala and Jason Dissanayake. Wijesinghe added the extra points for one of the two Tries and even the staunchest of Police supporters knew the game was over as a contest and the second half was a mere formality.
HALF TIME: POLICE 06 – KANDY 31
Referee Irshad Cader got the 2nd half underway with the Cops looking more determined than they were in the first half. Their hard work in defense kept the dangerous Kandy backs in check while their enterprising work in attack earned them a penalty. But yet again Sandesh Jayawickrama missed a sitter of a penalty much to the dismay of the home crowd. That prompted Police coach Shamly Nawaz to introduce new signing and his own coaching product from Zahira College, Zaid Singhwansa. But the youngster’s first real action was only to see Kandy’s Danushka Ranjan score a scorcher of a try that covered a good 40 meters leaving the Police defense in tatters. Wijesinghe made yet another good conversion and what looked a promising start to the second half by the hosts was all down the kitchen sink by the 55th minute. (POL 06 – KSC 38)
Ten minutes later replacement winger Lavanga Perera got into the act adding the finishing touches to a fine back division move. Arshad Jamaldeen who came off the bench took over the kicking duties but his first attempt at the sticks did not find it’s target. The Cops did manage to score a consolation try in the 72nd minute through replacement prop Heshan Fernando. (POL 11 – KSC 43)
All in all Kandy will be pleased with their performance, especially by their backs which has earned them 2 victories away from home on the bounce. Their only concern would be the fact that they gave away too many penalties during crucial moments in the game and where Richard Dharamapala and Anurudhdha Willawara were shown yellow either side of half time.
FULL TIME: POLICE SC 11 (1T 1P 1DG) – KANDY SC 43 (7T 4C)
- Refferree: Irshad Cader
- ThePapare Player of the Match : Gayan Weerarathne
Points breakdown: Police SC 11 (06)
Tries: Heshan Fernando (1)
Penalties: Sandesh Jayawickrama (1)
Drop Goals : Uthpala Senevirathne (1)Points breakdown: Kandy SC 43 (31)
Tries: Thilina Wijesinghe (3), Richard Dharmapala (1), Jason Dissanayake (1), Danushka Rankan, Lavanga Perera (1)
Conversions: Thilina Wijesinghe (4)
Bookings: Richard Dharmapala (Yellow), Anuruddha Wilwara (Yellow)
