Havies seal the title with one round to go

Kandy’s ten year reign over

by Chathura Pinnawala

Havelocks SC are the new Inter-Club Division ‘A’ league champions ending a 31 year wait at the glory putting an end to Kandy SC’s decade long perpetual domination in the process.

After Navy’s defeat to Upcountry Lions yesterday, Havies have an unassailable lead of 10 points over former champions Kandy SC which converts next week’s matches of Navy SC vs Havelocks SC and Upcountry Lions SC vs Kandy SC inconsequential.

Havelocks SC last won the league championship way back in 1981 under Angelo Wickremaratne and that year they also won the Triple Crown. They were in the top three in 2008 and 2011 and sandwiched in between those two years were seasons of hell as they finished at the bottom.

Kandy under the leadership of Saliya Kumara loses the crown which has had a permanent home in the hills in recent memory. Kandy has been league champions uninterrupted since 2002. Havies co-coach Thusitha Peiris speaking to ‘The Island’ about the success expressed delight at the achievement but asserted that they wanted to finish in the best possible way.

"We are delighted to have won the championship. This is a momentous occasion for the club but the season is not over. There’s one more game to go and we want to make sure we end in the true fashion, like champions," he said.

Havelocks so far have won nine of the ten games in the season and their only loss was inflicted by Kandy at Nittawela two weeks ago. They got the revenge for the reversal in a belligerent way last Saturday in the return fixture by destroying Kandy 50-19.

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