Kandy SC clinch Dialog Trophy

S.M. Jiffrey ABDEEN, Kandy Sports Corr.

Rugby Kings Kandy Sports Club continued from where they left last year when they became champions at the first leg of the Dialog Professional Rugby Sevens organised by the Sri Lanka Rugby Football Union.

They registered an easy 55 points (five goals, four tries) to 7 (one goal) win over Sri Lanka Army in the Cup Finals played at the Bogambara Stadium in Kandy yesterday. At half time Kandy SC led 29-0.

Kandy’s try spree was led by start of Fazil Marija who ran in three scintillating tries, all under the posts adding the points himself. He also made some daring breaks which flustered the opponents and was a top contender for the player of the tournament award.

The other try scorers were winger Sanjeewa Jayasinghe (2), full back Radhika Hettiarachchi (1), centre Gayan Weeraratne (1), No. 8 Dushan Lewke (1) and flanker Dilip Selvam (1). Fazil Marija and Radhika Hettiarachchi goalled the tries. For Army Saliya Handapangoda scored and Kapila Knowlton added the extra points.

Nizam Jamaldeen refereed.

Kandy SC trounced CH and FC 33-0 in the Cup quarter finals and beat Havelocks SC 29-14 in the Cup Semi-finals. This win by 15 points was the narrowest for the all conquering Kandy SC.

CR and FC were pushed out of the Cup Championship when they lost to Havelock SC 12-15. In the other Cup Semi-final Air Force edged out Police SC 12-5. Gayan Weeraratne of Kandy Sports Club was adjudged the player of the tournament.

President of the SLRFU DIG Nimal Lewke was the chief guest and he distributed the awards. The winners Kandy SC were awarded the Dialog Trophy and cash prize of Rs. 100,000. The runners-up Sri Lanka Army received a trophy and cash Rs. 60,000.

Much expected CR and FC did not live up to expectations and were relegated to the Plate Championship which they won by beating Police Sports Club by 19 points (two goals, one try) to 15 (three tries).

This was the second time these two clashed. Their first clash on Saturday ended in a 19 all draw. One of the plate semi-finals too produced top class rugby.

In the first semi-final CR and FC had to pull out every trick in their bag before getting the better of their arch rivals CH and FC 17-12. This was a fine gave which produced red hot rugby. The same cannot be said of the second semi-final in which Police Sports Club swamped Jawatte Lions 61-12.

Galle Rugby Football Club won the Bowl Championship by defeating Kurunegala Rugby Football Club 22-14 in the finals. In the semi-finals Galle RFC beat Petersons SC 22-5 and Kurunegala RFC beat Old Zahirians SC 24-21.

The results of matches played yesterday:

Cup quarter-finals Kandy SC beat CH and FC 33-0, Army SC beat Jawatte Lions 70-0, Havelocks SC beat CR and FC 15-12, Air Force beat Police 12-5.

Cup semi-finals Kandy SC beat Havelocks SC 29-14, Army SC beat Air Force SC 15-12.

Cup finals: Kandy SC bet Army SC 55-7.

Plate semi-finals

CR and FC beat CH and FC 17-12 and Police beat Jawatte Lions 61-12.

Plate finals: CR and FC beat Police 19-15.

Bowl semi-finals

Galle RFC beat Petersons SC 22-5, Kurunegala RFC beat Old Zahirians SC 24-21.

Bowl finals: Galle RFC beat Kurunegala RFC 22-14.

Shield Finals: Old Zahirians SC beat Petersons SC 17-12.