Can admirable Havies hold off revitalised Kandy?
Can admirable Havies hold off revitalised Kandy?
Even their fiercest critics would, in their saner moments, pause to acknowledge the Havelocks side that has triumphed over many odds to battle the champions, Kandy SC, today for the Dialog Rugby League title.
There was a shocker at the start of the season, when 5 or 6 Sri Lanka players decided to up and leave the Park Club for greener pastures at the CR and CH. A few weeks back, their toughest Prop Dushmantha Priyadarshana and their emerging centre Dinuk Amerasinghe were rendered hors de combat through injury. The unkindest cut of all was the suspension of the man who has guided them from veritable rags to comparative riches.
They may have dropped a game or two, but the fact is that, today, they will be fighting it out for the No.1 spot. Kudos are due, in particular, to Riza Mubarak who has been quietly efficient as a full back and has invariably, been spot on with his conversions.
Hooker Azmir Fajudeen, lock Sharo Fernando, flanker Shenal Deelaka and No. 8 Lasindu Ishan have all contributed to the Club’s victories with some sterling displays. Skipper Niroshan Fernando has been more than adequate at No.10. Importantly, he has not shied from taking decisions on the field.
Apart from the versatile Chamara Dabare, who can be outstanding on his day, the back division has a new look. Ex-Peterite centre Theekshana Dissanaike has fitted in well and has displayed courage and acumen in taking on the defence. His try against CR last weekend was something special. Together with his co-centre Randy Silva, they will have a difficult time countering their far more experienced Kandy SC centres.
Depleted as they have been, the spirit of the Havelocks team has shone through. So much so that, it is unthinkable they will baulk at this final hurdle. The memory of a recent 28-26 defeat of the champions will surely spur them on.
This year’s Kandy team has infuriated their diehard fans. Some of their performances were shoddy and mediocre – 3 losses in 7 games – 1 of them at home – is certainly not champion stuff. Some inexplicable and hard-to-defend positional changes may have contributed to some below par performances. However, they seemed to have got the decision-making right against CH last Sunday.
The results were there for all to see. The Kandy outsides played dazzling, free-flowing Rugby that was reminiscent of what their best teams produced. The outcome was 4 unanswered tries in the 2nd half, which stunned the formidable CH into meek submission. When Kandy gets it right, not many teams can live with them.
Kandy has had its share of injuries. Gayan Weerarathne did not play many games. Buvaneka Udangamuwe is out for the season. Two more national players, Srinath Sooriyabandara and Vishvamika Jayasinghe are also out through injury. The situation became funny when Danush Dayan, another national player, could not come off the bench, because of some malady or the other.
A team possessing players such as winger Anurudda Wilwara and centres Danushka Ranjan and skipper Richard Dharmapala cannot be underestimated. In fact, the entire team has, at moments, showed the resolve to come back from precarious situations.
Two players have been outstanding for the hill country club. Shehan Pathirana, with his experience, has been a tower of strength to the team. Full back Thilina Wijesinghe has been faultless, almost, with his place-kicking. With these two players on song as it were, Kandy is difficult to down.
Fly half Nigel Ratwatte seemed to return to his best in the CH game. That is a bonus for Kandy. The tried and tested Roshan Weeraratne is canny and can be relied on to make the right moves.
In the past, Kandy had a series of triumphs. This season, they have come face to face with disasters. Can they treat both impostors the same?