Kandy SC pulled off a thrilling 13-11 victory over CR and FC in their SLR Nippon Paint Inter-Club League Rugby Tournament first-round match played at Longden Place on Saturday.

The defending champions collected their points from one goal and two penalties after leading 3-0 at half time, while CR and FC responded with one try and two penalties. Tharinda Ratwatte was the match winner for Kandy SC as he fired across a crucial penalty a few minutes before the final whistle to keep their unbeaten record intact this season. In fact, Ratwatte did all the scoring for Kandy SC as he planted their solitary try in the 54th minute and did the conversion after having earlier opened the scoring with a penalty in the 10th minute.

CR and FC’s only try was scored by Vageesha Weerasinghe in the 64th minute, while Mohan Chathura put over both penalties in the 41st minute and 48th minute respectively. Havelocks v Air Force Meanwhile, Havelock SC went through some anxious moments as they edged out Air Force SC 36-35 in another exciting SLR Nippon Paint Inter-Club League Rugby Tournament match played in Ratmalana. The Havies collected their points from four goals, one try and one penalty after having led 19-6 at half time, while the Airmen responded with two goals, one penalty goal, one try, and three penalties.

Randitha Warnapura, Dinupa Senavirathne, Mithun Hapugoda, Azmeer Fajudeen and Shehan Dias scored a try each for the winners with Sandesh Jayawickrema adding the extra points and putting over the penalty. Meanwhile, Gayantha Iddamalgoda, Ramitha de Silva and Parakrama Rathnayake scored a try each for Air Force SC. Nuwan Perera converted two tries and fired across three penalties