Despite a good start by CH & FC who took the lead by 8 points to nil in the first 22 minutes, Kandy SC pulled up their socks to dish out another thrilling display and emerge winners by 31 points to 13 in their Dialog Rugby League game played at the Race Course ground yesterday.
Surprisingly it was CH that made a bright start with reputed players in their ranks who had failed to impress in earlier games. They applied the pressure by occupying the Kandy 22 area early in the game and was successful in the 13th minute when they off a series of moves and a break near the goal line Sajith Saranga picked up the loose ball and dived over to score.
Samuel Maduwantha surprisingly missed the conversion from a difficult angle with the prevalent of strong winds across the ground.
With play continuing to remain in Kandy SC half thereafter CH was awarded a penalty in the 26th minute when a Kandy player was spotted binding from the side of a loose maul.
Maduwantha this time kicked right and CH led 8-nil.
Thereafter Kandy SC picked up on their open play with Nigel Ratwatte and Tharinda Ratwatte taking control of the situation and creating the openings.
Kandy scored their first try when Tharinda Ratwatte made a break and Jason Dissanayake received the ball to barge over for a try in the 26th minute.
Tharinda was spot on with the easy conversion.
With Kandy stepping up on their cohesive play and combining well they went on to occupy the CH territory again and scored in the 31st minute when fly half Nigel Ratwatte sent a long pass to Buddhima Piyaratne off a move to go over for a try.
Tharinda once again converted to take the lead 14-8.
Just four minutes later Kandy SC scored again when centre Lavinga Perera made a break off a three-quarter move and when challenged passed over to Ratwatte to go over for a try. He failed to convert and Kandy SC led 19-8 at half time.
Kandy scored first after the turn around. They won a scrum and worked the blind side to send Ratwatte over the line and he converted it to increase on the lead, 26-8.
Five minutes later CH created an opportunity to advance into the Kandy territory and after a series of moves Rohitha Rajapaksa grabbed the ball and barged over for a try. The conversion was missed by Maduwantha who was off-colour with his kicking.
Kandy endeavoured to make more moves into the CH territory but was kept at bay with some good defensive work by the CH forwards.
However, Kandy had the final say when in the 36th minute Buwenake Udangamuwa kept the ball between his feet when the scrum was pushed over the line and touched down.
Ratwatte failed to convert but Kandy SC were clearly ahead by 31 points to 13 at full time.