Winning start for Kandy

Kavindu Perera passes the ball to Tharinda Ratwatte

Text and pic by Shamseer Jaleel at Nittawela

Defending League Champions, Kandy Sports Club, kicked off their 2022/23 inter-Club Rugby season with a 46-point (8 tries, 3 conversions) to 8-point (1 try, 1 penalty) win over the Army Sports Club at the Nittawela Rugby Stadium yesterday.

At the short break, Kandy SC led 31-8.

Kandy started off well in the first half with their speedy three-quarter line. Nigel Ratwatte, Tharinda Ratwatte, Shanushka Abeywickrema, and Lavanga Perera all looked a yard faster and more professional in their approach.
Meanwhile, due to a lack of a game plan, the Army outfit was left with few options for the majority of the game. In the early second half, they went for man instead of ball, and young referee Ravin Alexander too lost his control as the game progressed.

Kandy SC scored their tries through Lavanga (2), Kavindu Perera, Shanushka, Dilan Ekanayake, Malitha Wijesooriya, Lakshitha Ranaweera, and Chathura Soysa, while Tharinda had a poor day in kicking for his standards, converting only three of them.

For Army, Sudaraka Dikkumbura scored their lone try, and Chathuranga Perera converted a penalty.

Referee: Ravin Alexander