A whopper on the card

CR shifts Hettiarachchi while Kandy re-position Saliya Kumara

By Harry Jayachandra

Did you watch the movie ‘Fall of the Giants’? If you did not, you can watch the Sri Lankan episode of it at Longden Place today when CR and FC take on reigning champions Kandy SC in the finale of the Caltex Segment ‘A’ Division One first phase. So far both teams have remained unbeaten and this evening one will still go on the second phase with a clean sheet.

IT’s crunch time for unbeaten teams - CR and Kandy SC - when they clash at Longdon Place today. On right CR is caught in a fierce mood in their game against arch rivals Havelocks. Top Kandy SC had to fight hard to pull off a win over Police. – Pictures by Ranjith Perera

Both teams are unbeaten this season, but the hosts know that this is must win game as the return leg will be in Kandy. CR and FC are alo aware that victory is a must if they are to wrench the ‘A’ Division trophy from the visitors. With so much at stake predicting a winner would be nothing short of fool hardy.

The hosts have had the tendency this season of not getting out of second gear when the need arose. But they will be aware that they will need to play at their best against a team that has more than ten Sri Lankan caps.

Both teams play fast open rugby and obviously one has to look at the back divisions of the two teams. In terms of experience the visitors are far ahead. But what the home team lack in experience they more than make up for it with their enthusiasm. CR and FC have shifted Radhika Hettiarachchi from centre to full back. This probably is to counter the threat posed by Kandy’s Nalaka Weerakkody who is in terrific form. In addition Hettiachchi though still a powerful runner, has lost more than a couple of yards of pace. Meanwhile the visitors have shifted Saliya Kumara who normally plays as a centre or wing three quarter to scrum half. Kumara who is quick will have to be on his toes to counter his opposite number Sri Lankan scrum half Amjad Buksh.

Both packs are equally impressive with Kandy’s skipper and prop Jeewa Galgamuwa leading from the front as does his opposite number Second rower Anuddha Dharmatilleke. If it is their day Kandy may have the edge in loose ball situations. But when it comes to set pieces Buksh has proved to be very effective at nailing his opponent in the scrums and Dharmatilleke is more than capable of winning the ball against the head from line outs.

One of the unsung heroes for CR and FC this year has been centre Kaushalya De Costa. De Costa almost reminds one of former Australia Wallabies legendary centre Tim Horan. Like Horan De Costa can be very effective both in attack and defence. His sniping runs have resulted in a number of tries for his team mates. And in defense he is more than capable of taking out his man.
The bench strength of both teams is equally impressive. The hosts have the likes of Senthil Kumar, man mountain Hasitha Perera and veteran Pavithra Fernando. The visitors’ bench has in their ranks Dilip Selvam, Prasad Chaturanga and Weerakkody’s younger bother Eranda.

If both teams are at their best a humdinger of a game is almost certain.

CR and FC from :15.Radhika Hettiaarachchi (Full Back),14.Dinesh Kumar,(Wing) 11. Ravindra Wekadapola (Wing), 13. Kaushalya De Costa (Center), 12. Mohamed Sheriff (Center), 10. Omar Sherifudeen (Fly Half), 9. Amjad Buksh (Scrum Half), 8. Gayan Fernando (NO. 8), 7. Kasun De Silva (Flanker), 6. Charith Deshapriya (Flanker), 5. Ashean Karthelis (2nd row), 4. Anurdha Dharmathilaka (2nd Row) Captain, 1Dhanushka Botheju (Prop), 2. Anuja Perera (Hooker) and 3. Duminda Pullikuttiarachchi (Prop).
Reserves; 16. Senthil Kumar, 17. Terrance Henry, 18. Navin Wijethunga, 19. Hasitha Perera/Pavithra Fernando, 20. Zulki Hamid, 21.Ashane De Costa and 22. Nuwan Chamara

Kandy SC from: 15.Nalaka Weerakkody (Full Back), 14.Sanjeewa Jayasinghe (Wing 11), Ravindra Wekadapola (Wing). 13. Pradeep Liyanage (Center), 12. Sajith Mallikaarachchi (Center), Fazil Marijan (Fly Half), 9. Saliya Kumara (Scrum Half), 8. Dushantha Lewke (NO. 8), 7. Sean Wijesinghe (Flanker), 6. Imran Bisthamin (Flanker), 5. Sumeda Jayasinghe (2nd row) 4. Senaka Bandara (2nd Row), 3 Jeewa Galgamuwa (Prop) Captain 2. Anurada Walpola (Hooker) 3. Kishore Jehan (Prop)
Reserves: 16. Saranath Hettiaarachchi, 17. S. Manchanayake, 18.Buddika Thalagampola, 19 Dilip Selvam, 20 Prasad Chathuranga, 21 Eranda Weerakkody and 22 Mohamed Jabbar.