Await 2020 rugby blockbuster: CR vs Kandy
Kandy SC are unfazed by the loss of ace kicker Thilina Wijesinghe and playing away from home when they take on CR&FC on Saturday, January 4 at Longdon Place, in what is expected to be a blockbuster clash between two unbeaten sides in the first round of the Dialog Club Rugby League Championship.
Sri Lanka fullback, Wijesinghe, has been provisionally suspended by Sri Lanka Rugby after failing a doping test and is likely to miss the remainder of the season.
“It has nothing to do with Kandy SC. The incident happened when he was practicing with the Sri Lanka team about five months ago. We have to abide by WADA and World Rugby regulations,” Kandy SC’s manager Kapila Silva told the Sunday Times.
Wijesinghe has been in splendid touch with the boot, being one of the leading scorers this season with 41 points made up of two tries, 11 conversions and three penalties from just three outings after sitting out Kandy’s last match against Police. His presence would be sorely missed if it comes to a crunch especially against a side like CR, who have Riza Mubarak, the leading scorer this season with 48 points comprising 11 conversions and eight penalties.
“He is a good player but we have good replacements for any position. We hope to field the same starting line-up as we did against Police,” said Kapila Silva, who expects some key players such as Kavindu Perera to return from injury.
Indeed Kandy SC even had the luxury of benching skipper Nigel Ratwatte in the second half owing to an injury against Police with centre Tarinda Ratwatte stepping into the pivotal fly half’s role with ease. The former Trinity skipper will have a key role to play with his kicking accuracy and tactical acumen when he plays against the club he captained last season in a crucial clash.
“Our pack leaders are Damith Dissanayake and Shehan Pathirana while scrum half Srinath Sooriyanbandara spearheads the backs. In the absence of Nigel, the team takes decisions,” said Silva.
Defending champions Kandy SC have been on a roll after being given a fright by Navy SC, surviving to win 16-14 before hammering Army 64-19 and thumping Police 36-24 in their first match away from home. In fact they will be travelling for the remainder of their first round matches and also early in the second round.
“Travelling is a bit of an issue but we have a programme where we will be trying to recover well after each game and focus on the other game every week. We have planned it accordingly and I think it will hopefully work well,” skipper Nigel Ratwatte told the Sunday Times.
Asked about the clash between two unbeaten teams, he said: “We will stick to our game plan and hopefully execute our plan well and get a good win.”
Kandy’s versatility is their strength especially their water-tight defence with loose forwards Jason Dissanayake and Buwaneka Udangamuwa having the ability to join the line in attack. Sri Lanka Sevens captain Dansha Dayan has been a tower of strength in the last line of defence and has the knack of initiating attacks from the deep for hungry wingers Buddhima Piyaratne and Dilakshe Dange to stretch the opposition defence.
CR, led by Omalka Gunaratne have enjoyed a steady start to the season compared to last year but will need to step up a gear if they are to beat a champion side like Kandy. Young guns Janidu Dilshan and Gemunu Chetiya have been their key performers. Reeza Raffaideen is a potent threat on the wing but it all depends on how good they are able to win the ball.
CH&FC, buoyed by their last-gasp win over Navy will be hoping to climb up from the bottom four when they meet Police, who are hoping to bounce back from the bruising encounter against Kandy before the seasonal break. Navy are likely to record their first win of the season and avoid the ‘wooden spoon’ tag when they take on Air Force.
