Rugby: Can CR stop the marauding Kandy army

Having been defeated by a single point (24-23) in their tournament opener, the Police team may find it a little difficult to believe that they can turn things round when they take on the defending Dialog Rugby League champions, Kandy SC at Nittawela on Sunday (18).
 
All is not gloom and doom for the law-enforcers. 

In a sense, they were moral winners against the Navy. 

The Police were in the lead towards the end, but the two crucial penalties they conceded, cost them the game. 

Fullback Utpala Edirisinghe, number eight Shanaka Harischandra, flanker Vageesha Weerasinghe and kicker Amitha Prabath stood out for the Police. 

Fijian Junior Vunivesa is not a massive player. 

His strength is that he is very hands on, and is very supportive of his team-mates. 

Police played as one unit against the Sailors. 

They showed an inclination to attack and their speed on the ball was quite impressive. 

The downside for the Police team is that they don't have a single Sri Lankan player in their ranks. 

They have lost two very influential players in Sandesh Jayawickrema and Fawmi Wajid, who transferred their affiliations. 

Skipper Chanaka Udara will be happy that they have been able to rope in last year's Josephian winger Sachith Silva. Small mercies! 

Nittawela is very different from windy Ratmalana. Kandy SC will be glad that they are back on home turf and that they will be turning out in front of their devoted, frenzied fans. 

Winger Vishvamithra Jayasinghe used his speed to good effect against the Airmen to score a try or two. 

Richard Dharmapala, the skipper, was in the thick of the action. 

Fly half Nigel Ratwatte made a rare blunder in the in-goal area. That cost his team a try. 

Thilina Wijesinghe, overcame slightly difficult conditions to make it four conversions out of four. 

Kandy's pride, the back division, performed quite well, although there were occasional glitches. 

A possible try did not materialise as a result of a wayward pass to winger Lavanga Perera, who was unmarked. 

A couple of dropped passes confirmed the thought that they were early season blues. 

However, Kandy can play better. Their flamboyant best is yet to come. 

Dhanushka Ranjan, Jason Dissanaike and Buvenaka Udangamuwe, three of Kandy's outstanding players did not do anything sensational. 

They should make amends today. 

It is inconceivable that the Police, will pull the rug from under Kandy's feet. 

However, they are a spirited outfit and should make things difficult for the champions.