Kandy Sports Club clinically tore apart Sri Lanka Air Force SC 53-14 to continue their dominance in the current rugby season to reach the semi-finals of the Clifford Cup knockout tournament in their quarterfinal match played at Trinity College rugby grounds Pallekele yesterday.
Kandy scored their points off 8 tries, 5 conversions and a penalty to the Airmen’s 2 tries and 2 conversions.
At half time Kandy led 26-0.
It was a good run and pass game where Kandy excelled. The Airmen clearly were not up to the required standard and Kandy showed they were a cut above them and were miles ahead as the opponents had no answer to their flair.
Kandy were rapid in attack, impervious in defence and too smart in tactics. The Airmen opened out in the second half with courage and for a short time were the better team when they scored two tries, but Kandy had too much of fire power to outlast them.
The scorers for Kandy were Richard Dharmapala and Shehan Pathirana with two each, Danushka Ranjan, M. Ali, Oshan Perera and Lavanga Perera one try each. All the kicking was done by Thilina Wijesinghe.
For Air Force Suri Krishan and J. Seelagama scored a try each and Charith Seneviratne did the kicking part.
Kandy will meet CR & FC in the semi-finals at the same venue on February 21.
Referee - P .Weeranga.
CR BEAT CH 46/29
CR&FC put up a fine display of rugby to outsmart CH&FC by 46 points (7 tries, 4 conversions, 1 penalty) to 29 (4 tries, 3 conversions, 1 penalty) in their Clifford Cup quarterfinal knockout rugby match played at the Racecourse Stadium yesterday.
At half time CR led 22-17.
HAVELOCKS ROUT ARMY
Havelocks SC entered the Clifford Cup knockout rugby semi-finals with a 39 points (6 tries, 3 conversions, 1 penalty) to 20 (3 tries, 1 conversion, 1 penalty) win over Army SC in their quarterfinal match played at Police Park yesterday.
At half time Havelocks led 19-10.