It was another feather in the cap for Kandy Sports Club as they became Cup Champions at the 3rd Singer Professional Rugby Sevens – 2006, organized by the Sri Lanka Rugby Football Union in conjunction with the Central Province Rugby Football Union, when they edged out CH & FC by 20 points (4 tries) to 19 (2 goals, 1 try) in the finals worked off at the Race Course grounds in Nuwara Eliya on Sunday.

At the breather Kandy led 15-7.

This was the first ever rugby football match played at the Race Course grounds in Nuwara Eliya where the regular venue has been Radella. Heavy rain in the afternoon made ground conditions slippery and muddy and Kandy SC turned out to be the better ‘mud larkers.’ The game saw, for the first time, two expatriates playing for the clubs. For Kandy SC, West Samoan Laga Tulagese played as coach cum player while Fijian, Jimmy Bolokora played for CH & FC.

Kandy opened scoring when Tulagese touched down mid right following a line out. Nalaka Weerakkodi missed the conversion. But CH immediately took over the lead through a try by Mohamed Fajurdeen, who scored under the post. Saliya Kumara added the extra points (7-5 for CH).

But the game changed the other way round as Kandy came up with a brilliant try by Chamara Withanage near right corner flag which went unconverted (10-7 for Kandy). Just before lemons, Kandy were gifted with a try as CH player misfielded behind the post and Weerakkody fell over. But he missed the conversion (15-7 for Kandy).

On the resumption, Bolokora ran through Kandy defence to score under the post. Kumara failed in the conversion (12- 15 for Kandy). Later Kandy increased the tally through a fine try by scrum half Nilufer Ibrahim, who scored by the right corner flag. Nilufer missed the conversion. With a minute to go, CH came back to the game with some solid play by the forwards. Skipper Wijesekara scored and Kumara added the extras.

Nizam Jamaldeen refereed.

Prizes were distributed by Ajith Abeysekara, Director- Marketing, Singer Sri Lanka Ltd., Devaka Wickramasooriya, Secretary, Nuwara Eliya GC and Priyantha Ekanayake, President SLRFU.

Galle RFC won the plate championship by defeating Sri Lanka Army by 12 points (1 goal, 1 try) to 7 (1 goal) having led 5-0 at half time. D. Nimal refereed.

Air Force win Bowl –

In the tussle for the Bowl C’ship, Sri Lanka Air Force defeated Carlton SC 29-14 in the finals while Old Zahirians SC over came Uva by 17 points to 5 in the other final to carry away the shield.

Results:

CR & FC beat North Central 24-0, Carlton beat Uva 22-5, Galle beat Dimbulla 17-14, CH & FC beat Police 31-7, Kandy beat Army ‘B’ 53-0, CPRFU beat Old Zahirians ‘A’14-5, Army SC beat Old Zahirians ‘B’ 17-7, Havelocks beat SL Air Force ‘A’ 10-0, Peterson beat North Central 34-5, SL Air force ‘B’ beat Carlton 19-8, CH & FC beat Kurunegala RFC 57-0, Army ‘B’ beat Ratnapura 33-5, CPRFU beat Hydramani 24-0.

Uva beat North Central 24-12, Ratnapura beat Seethavaka 19-5, Old Zahirians ‘B’ beat Kurunegala RFC 29-10, Carlton RFC beat Peterson 42-7, Police beat Dimbulla 19-14, Old Zahirians ‘A beat Army ‘B’ 15-12, SL Air force ‘A’ beat Panadura 52-0, CR & FC beat SL Air force 38-5.