Defending champions Kandy Sports Club secured a 44-14 victory against hosts Navy Sports Club in their season opener of the Inter-Club Rugby League in Welisara yesterday (22).

Blind side wing Gayan Perera flew over the whitewash in the eighth minute and opened the scoring as national halfback Heshan Jansen sent a rocket of a pass in the right flank. Hirusha Sampath missed the conversion (KSC 5-0 NSC). 

Later on Navy dominated the game but missed out on scoring through multiple penalty chances. They opted for the big points without taking the easy penalties at goal. Kandy’s defence stood rock solid to keep the Sailors at bay. 

Sampath got his first points for the day through a 27th minute penalty to take an eight-point lead. In the 30th minute Kandy forwards just steamrolled Navy to milk their third scrum penalty, which made way for veteran Kavindu Perera to touch down in the left flank. 

Sampath kicked a peach of a kick to add the extras from a difficult angle.

Half-time: Kandy 15-0 Navy

Srinath Sooriyabandara the magician added fireworks with his brilliant work rate and had a 25 metre blitz in the 43rd minute to kickstart the second half with a bang (KSC 20-0 NSC). 

A couple of minutes later Navy’s replacement halfback Koojana Kulatunga gave life to the hosts when he barged over under the posts for a converted try (KSC 20-7 NSC). 

Dahan Wickramarachchi went over the try line yet again for the reigning champs in the 60th minute to almost seal the deal. Asiri Senevirathne missed the extras.

That also meant Kandy got the all important four-try bonus point. 

Roshan Sanjeewa scored in the 65th minute to lift up the morale in the Navy camp and senior man Isuru Kongahawatte sniped his kick across the posts to add the extras.

Gayan Perera went over for his second try 10 minutes before the long whistle.

Kandy were on a roll as Wajid Fawmy scored off a scrum in the 77th and schoolboy Rivin Baudeen fresh off Kingswood scored his first points for the hometown club in his debut game with a superb conversion. 

Thilina Bandara scored again at the brink of full-time and Baudeen put the icing on the cake with yet another scintillating corner flag conversion.

Full-time: Kandy SC 44 (7T 3C 1P) beat 14 (2T 2C) Navy SC

Upcoming fixtures

(All matches kick off at 3.30 p.m.)

28 Nov. 

·         Havelocks vs. Army at Havelock Park 

·         Police vs. CR & FC at Police Park 

29 Nov. 

·         Siri Lions vs. Kandy at Longden Place

30 Nov. 

·         Navy vs. CH & FC in Welisara

      •Courtesy from “www.themorning.lk”

    https://www.themorning.lk/articles/KMcOVbuEUD3PLrXVk8ac