Defending League Champs Kandy Sports Club continued their league defence after the Christmas break with a Comfortable win over Air Force SC 30 points to 13 in their Nippon Paint Club Rugby League 2023/24 encounter, which was worked off at Air Force Rugby Grounds in Ratmalana.
It was a silent game until the 15th minute as Gayantha Iddamalgoda broke the deadlock as he slotted over an easy penalty. Kandy hit back immediately when a pass from the Airforce Scrumhalf Kavisha Kaluarachchi was intercepted by Lakshitha Ranaweera, who ran in a 60-metre try to stun the Airmen. (AIR FORCE 03 – 05 KANDY)
Kandy lost their Skipper Lavanga Perera as he was sin binned for a high tackle. The Airmen dominated the game during the numerical advantage, but they were unable to cross the white wash due to some brilliant defensive work from Kandy, and Airforce finally opted to go towards the sticks as Iddamalgoda added another penalty to take them to lead. (AIR FORCE 06 – 05 KANDY)
Half Time: Air Force SC 06 (2P) – Kandy SC 05 (1T)
>>Photos – Police SC vs Havelock SC | Nippon Paint Rugby League 2023/24 – Week 4<<
The defending champions got off to a strong start in the second half as they opened the scoring through Tharindu Chathuranga as he was driven over the line by his team-mates for the second try of the game. (AIR FORCE 06 – 10 KANDY)
The game was in balance, but it had to be halted for more than 10 minutes due to lightning. After the break, Kandy played a different game as their forwards piled on the pressure through several pick and drives while the nippy replacement scrumhalf Suranga Tennakoon took a quick-tap penalty from a couple of metres out to go over.
The airmen lost the momentum of the game as the Kandy backs linked up well and opened up space for Suranga Tennakoon to crash over for his second try, and Kandy scored the bonus point try. (AIR FORCE 06 – 20 KANDY)
The visitors continued to play attacking Rugby and got some reward for their pressure through an Asiri Senevirathne penalty, and Kandy went into overdrive when Tharindu Chathuranga powered over the white wash for his second try. (AIR FORCE 06 – 30 KANDY)
In the dying ambers of the game, the Airmen scored a consolation try through Sadalu Mandew and it was converted by Nadun Gunasekara. Kandy, with this bonus point win, go on top the points table with 24 points.
Full Time: Air Force SC 13 (1T,1C,2P) – Kandy SC 30 (5T,1C,1P)
Black Knight Player of the Match: Tharindu Chathuranga (Kandy SC)
Points Breakdown
Air Force SC: 13
Try: Sadalu Mandew, Con: Nadun Gunasekara ;Pens: Gayantha Iddamalgoda (2)
Kandy SC: 30
Tries: Lakshitha Ranaweera , Tharindu Chathuranga (2), Suranga Tennakoon (2), Con: Asiri Senevirathne ;Pen: Asiri Senevirathne
