Rugby the winner as crowds return

Last Sunday crowds thronged the picturesque Nittawela Rugby Stadium, albeit at half the capacity as sanctioned by the health authorities, marking a return of spectators to rugby games in the country.

Sri Lanka Rugby (SLR) defying all odds has managed to get the inter-club season going and the weekend culminated in a fitting fashion when a second half avalanche by the glamour boys of local rugby Kandy Sports Club ended in a drubbing of CH & FC 39-03.

The last Trinity College skipper to hold aloft the Bradby Shield in Tharinda Ratwatte dished out a master class both in defence and in attack and sent the Maitland Crescent side back peddling putting to rest the slim belief of an upset following an evenly contested first half.

Havelock SC made their intent of being title contenders very clear in withstanding a mid-game onslaught by Army SC to run out winners at the Park in the opening game for the week.

The final score line of 36-14 does not give an indication how close the game was moving into the final 30 minutes.

The two games on Saturday saw Navy SC getting the better of reigning runners up Police SC 12 – 00 and the once mighty CR & FC succumbing to a resurgent Air Force SC 11-19 at Longden Place. 

Seen here are photographs taken by Kushan Pathiraja (Havelock SC v Air Force SC) and Jim Shadrach (Kandy SC v CH&FC).