Kandy Sports Club who already clinched the Inter-Club Rugby League Championship title last week beating CR & FC ended their season in grand fashion amidst a capacity crowd at their home fortress in Nittawela as they continued their unbeaten run defeating Havelock Sports Club 50-24 yesterday (16). It was the hill capital lads’ 11th successive win of the season. They regained the title after losing out to CR last year. Kandy last won the league in 2023 and continue to be the most successful club rugby outfit in the island nation.
On a bustling Nittawela turf, Kandy’s Dinal Ekanayake scored in the very first minute of the game through a beautiful three-quarter move, Tarinda Ratwatte slotted the corner flag conversation. Later Ratwatte kicked an almost 40-metre penalty to go up 10-00. Hometown boy Samuel Maduwantha put the first points on board for Havies through a penalty at the 15th minute.
Later Kandy SC Skipper Srinath Sooriyabandara’s try was converted by Ratwatte from the corner (17-3) in the 25th minute Kenula Hetttiarachchi scored courtesy of a well-drilled driving maul with Tarinda Ratwatte slotting his 3rd back-to-back corner flag conversion.
Three minutes later Sandesh Jayawickrema converted his own try which came off individual brilliance. Kandy replied with vengeance as Dahan Wickramarachchi scored in the club house corner. Tarinda made no mistakes with the extras (31-10).
Halftime: Kandy SC 31-10 Havelocks
Dahan opened the scoring in the 2nd chapter through a brilliant move foxing the Havelocks defence. Tarinda was on point yet again with a corner flag conversion.
15 minutes later Janidu Fernando scored for Havies with Sandesh adding the extras. Soon after Kandy’s Ethan Schnider-Loos came to the scoring party against his old club soon with a converted try (45-17). With 10 minutes to go Jayathu Rajarathna – the highest try scorer of the league replied with a dashing-converted try to add some pride for the Park Club.
Finally, something that cannot be scripted happened in the very last move of the game as Kandy’s legendary icon Nigel Ratwatte scored the final try of the game after collecting a punt by Dinal Ekanayake. It was a poetic ending for Nigel on his last league fixture as he bid adieu after 12 years of yeoman service towards Kandy Sports Club in a fitting finale send-off where he played a talismanic role. According to reports, Nigel Ratwatte will hang his boots after the Clifford Cup Knockouts.
Full time : Kandy SC 50 (7T 6C 1P) beat Havelocks 24 (3T 3C 1P)