Army ahead in this battle of wits
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Action during the Army-Police first round game. File photo
The Police and the Army, who will meet today at Diyagama, take the field with some confidence after winning last week’s matches. The Army had the more satisfying win, as they triumphed 30-17 over the Navy who were title contenders up to a couple of weeks ago.
The Navy’s 28 point loss to the Kandy team has induced a sense of lethargy, even deja vu. They did manage to shake it off and pounce upon CH and FC (81-23). Kandy’s over confidence and loss to the Air Force seems to have passed Navy by. They rested several key players against the Army and had their due reward – a 17-30 loss to Manoj Silva’s team who have now recorded three wins in the second round.
The Police, too, were almost upended by lowly CH who, in the final analysis, came up short by a try. Having piled up 26 points by the break, the law-enforcers seemed to have taken their foot off the pedal. CH were in no mood to look a gift horse in the mouth. They ran in two tries, both converted, but just fell short.
Police’s poor performance has surprised one and all. They have at least six players with a decent rugby back-ground (Kingswood and Vidyartha) and two others from Royal and Isipathana. In contrast, the Army does not have that kind of talent. This makes their achievement all the more laudable.
The Army has got this far mainly because of the rumbustious play of their forwards. Last year’s skipper Asoka Jayalal has dumped many tries. Manoj Silva, Nalaka Maduranga and Upul Abeyratne have got their names on the score-sheet. Fly half Ashan Bandara, who returned to the side after injury, was at his best in the Navy game.
Last but not least, the last line of defence. Gayan Salinda, the Kandy number 15, has done a good job. His kicking in the Navy game was almost impeccable.
The Army has had five successes so far. After their last couple of wins, they have got the bit between their teeth and will take a lot of stopping. It would do well to remember that the Army won their earlier clash 27-24. Manoj Silva’s team, intriguingly, has scored 312 points and conceded 313. If they win here, they will move into the top four. That should be sufficient incentive.
It has been down hill almost all the way for the Police. In the past, the Police boasted of some very good place-kickers starting from the late Charles Wijewardena, to Hajireen and onto Nizam Jamaldeen – Rajitha Sansoni has got some big boots to fill. It cannot be denied that he has been trying his best. However, playing in a side that’s losing consistently dulls the edge of one’s enthusiasm.
Mohamed Absal, Chula Susantha, Reeza Refaideen and Muhsin Faleel are players with talent and experience. But they have got to put it all together on the day. The pack contains players such as Radeesha Seneviratne, Joel Perera, Achala Perera, Skipper Chanaka Suriyapperuma and Romesh Acharige. There is a load of experience and know-how waiting to be tapped. A win here will instill fresh excitement and enthusiasm and make them serious contenders in the knock-out round.
-AK