By: Shamseer Jaleel

• Kandy Sports Club secured their final berth in the Clifford Cup 2025 with a convincing 38 points (6 tries, 4 conversions) to 21 points (3 tries, 3 conversions) victory over CH and FC in the first semi-final played at the Nittawela Rugby Stadium in Kandy.

With this win, Kandy SC moves one step closer to reclaiming the prestigious Clifford Cup but not before some anxious moment as they played this game without their regular Skipper, Srinath Sooriyabandara and playmaker Tarinda Ratwatte due to injuries.

The home team also opted in testing their bench 20 minutes into the second half and the visitors managed to touch down three times during this period.

The home team began the match in aggressive fashion, quickly gaining control through their well-structured attacking play. Shaahid Zumri set the tone with an early try in the third minute of the game.

Tries by Dinal Ekanayake, Diluksha Dange, and Nigel Ratwatte took Kandy SC into a commanding 26-0 lead with Nigel converting three of the four tries.

After the short whistle, CH and FC, who struggled to match Kandy’s intensity in the first half, failing to register any points before the break, regrouped and played a better brand of rugby.

Meanwhile, Kandy SC started testing their entire bench as their next game is the final encounter on April 6. Kandy SC scored soon after half time through Zumri but CH hit back strongly with tries through Anuk Fernando, Janidu Dilshan and Ramesh Fernando.

All three were converted Janith Chandimal. Despite CH and FC’s three second half tries, Kandy SC scored their last of the tries through Diluksha Dange.

For Kandy SC Diluksha Dange, Dinal Ekanayake, Nigel Ratwatte, Kavindu Perera and Danushka Ranjan played well while for the CH, Skipper, Janidu Dilshan and Pulasthi Dissanayake played their hearts out.

Kandy SC’s strong defensive set-up and game management ensured that CH’s late surge was not enough to overturn the result.

Referee: Ishanka Abeykoon.