Sri Lanka captain Srinath Sooriyabandara bagged a brilliant brace to hand Kandy Sports Club the CR & FC Centenary 7’s title in the final match against Havelock Sports Club at Longden Place today.

Kandy, having led 14-0 at half-time, went on to win the final 21-7 after Havies had struck back with an outstanding try from their golden boy Randitha Waranpura in the 9th minute following a yellow card to Kavindu Perera.

With just a seven-point lead, Kandy needed to keep their calm, but Sooriyabandara finished the game off in the final minute with a quickly taken penalty, which was followed up by a typical solo run from the former Isipathana star to hand them the win.

Havelock, though, will be disappointed with the result, especially after starting so well. Kandy opened their account in the 5th minute when Tarinda Ratwatte was able to intercept a long pass before making a good sixty-meter run to go under the posts before Soori scored his first try on the stroke of half-time.

Meanwhile, CR & FC, who played magnificently throughout the tournament, were edged out in the first semifinal by Havelock 17-12, but the hosts were able to come back in style to hammer CH & FC 31-12 in the Plate final.

Meanwhile, St. Peter’s College produced a gallant performance in the final match of the inter-school segment against Royal College to claim the title with a 21-0 victory.

Isipathana College defeated Zahira College in the Plate final after both teams were tied on 19 points apiece at the end of full-time, dragging the game into extra time, but Isipathana star Rinesh Silva sealed the deal for the Green Machines. Text By: Harsha Amarasinghe / Pix by: Kushan Pathiraja