NITTAWELA, Kandy, January 11 Sunday (ePRESS) – CR and FC produced a gutsy, backs-to-the-wall performance to stun defending champions and unbeaten Kandy Sports Club 25–20 at Nittawela, turning the champions’ fortress into a hunting ground and throwing the title race wide open in the Maliban Trophy SLR Inter-club A Division League Rugby Tournament. The Red Shirts held their nerve under heavy pressure, led 17–13 at the break, and then absorbed a late storm to seal a famous away win.
Played on a wet and slippery surface after steady rain, the contest was a real arm-wrestle between two heavyweight sides, with neither giving an inch.
CR struck first blood in the third minute when centre Thenuka Nanayakkara calmly slotted a long-range penalty to put the visitors 3–0 ahead. The Red Shirts then drove hard off a rolling maul, and Fijian No.8 Enesi Waqanisau barged over for the opening try. Nanayakkara converted to make it 10–0 inside the opening quarter.
Kandy hit back with purpose. Burly hooker Dilshan Fareed finished off a powerful maul for their first try, though the conversion was missed. Moments later, winger Dinal Ekanayake sliced through on the right flank to score, and with the conversion going astray again, the scores were locked at 10–all by the 22nd minute.
CR regained control before the interval when second-row Naveen Marasinghe crashed over near the posts. Nanayakkara added the extras to push the visitors 17–10 ahead. Kandy trimmed the deficit just before the break through a penalty, leaving CR narrowly in front at 17–13 at halftime.
The visitors extended their lead early in the second half when replacement Chathura Seneviratne landed a superb long-range penalty to make it 20–13. Kandy had chances to respond but failed to cash in.
CR then landed the decisive blow in the 57th minute as Nanayakkara squeezed in at the right corner for a fine try, stretching the lead to 25–13. Though he left the field later, his influence had already shaped the game.
Kandy refused to roll over and were awarded a penalty try in the 70th minute after sustained pressure, cutting the gap to 25–20 and setting up a tense finish. With time running out and CR reduced to 14 men following a yellow card, the champions threw everything they had at the visitors.
But CR stood firm, kicked smartly for territory, and showed cool heads under fire to run down the clock and silence Nittawela at the final whistle.
