Kandy-Havelocks game should be a block buster
With two match weeks to go Kandy SC looks well set for the League title
At the end of 12th week of inter club rugby, Kandy SC still holds the grip and leads the table with their unbeaten run intact. Last week they were given a real scare by CR in their own den Nittawela.
At the end of game, it was a sigh of relief for both Kandy players and ardent Kandy supporters. In the first round itself, Kandy was tested to the limits by the same opponent at the Race Course.
Yesterday Kandy played Navy at Welisara. Their last fixture to end the season will be on Feb, 28th against the hardy Havelock side at Nittawela. This will be another very close game.
Without the skipper cum playmaker Fazil Marija due to injury, Kandy has somehow manages to prevail over their opponents so far.
The players in calibre of Kishore Jehan, Damith Dassanayake, Piyumal Manchanayake, Gayan Ratnayake, Dimitri Wijetunge, Shehan Pathirana, Soyuru Anthony, Buwaneka Udangamuwa, Asitha Ratnayake, Heshan Kalhara (All forwards) and the backs Roshan Weeraratne, Arshad Jamaldeen, Richard Dharmapala, Gayan Weeraratne, Vishwamithra Jayasinghe, Danushka Dayan, Nigel Ratwatte and Srinath Sooriyabandara are all superb players who can deliver the goods, and can make the difference at the end.
Meanwhile Havelocks last week, from brink of defeat, came back to win the game against Police at Police Park with a last minute try during the dying stages of the game.
Havelocks throughout the season have shown their fortitude and by yesterday they are to play against the CR and FC at their own den under lights.
Their final encounter of the season, next week will be against Kandy at Nittawela — another thriller waiting to unfold.
They too have players in calibre of Dushmantha Priyadarshana, Prasath Madushan, Janik Jayasuriya, Sudarshana Muthuthantri, Lasindu Karunathilaka (All forwards) and backs in skipper Sandun Herath, Rahul Silva, Shamly Burah, Hirantha Perera, Rehan Thiyagaraja and Rimzie Jamaldeen who can change the proceedings of the game in favour of their team.
CR & FC after the 12th week, still holding on to the number three position in the table was not fortunate to score an upset win over the Kandy outfit last week.
Like their first round performance against the same opponent at the Race Course, they played their best game so far in the tournament but failed to finish off the game in their favour. On Feb 27th, CR will play their final game of the tournament against the lowly placed Air Force SC at Longden Place. Yesterday they were to play Havelocks at the Park.
Navy SC won a thriller last week against the hardy Army outfit at Diyagama. Their last game of the tournament will be against the lowly placed CH and FC at Welisara on Feb, 26th. A big winning margin is expected from the Sailors. Yesterday they were to play against the table leaders Kandy SC in their own back yard.
Meanwhile Police SC was so unfortunate to lose the game against Havelocks as they were leading 24-20 till the dying stages of the game. Their last game of the season will be against the robust Army at Police Park on Feb, 27th.
Army was so unfortunate in many games in the tournament. They lacked finish to win games in their favour. The last week clash against Navy was a similar one they were so near and yet so far! Yesterday they were to play CH and FC at the Race Course. The final game of the season will be against Police SC.
The Air Force SC with a solitary win and winless CH and FC is at the bottom of the table. They have not made any impact in the 2015/2016 rugby season.