By Shamseer Jaleel

All rugby fans in the country will be present in numbers at Longdon Place today to witness one of the key Inter-Club rugby encounters between CR & FC and defending champions Kandy SC. Kick-off is scheduled at 4 p.m.

As usual the CR and Kandy encounter is similar to the Trinity vs. Royal encounter in the school segment. Club rugby this season, unlike other years where Kandy wins a one horse race, has nearly three teams looking forward to keep their hands on the League. They are joint table leaders, Havies and Navy, and defending champions Kandy. 

Kandy dropped two games, one to Navy and the other one in an unexpected fashion to Air Force after more than three decades. This puts them under pressure not only to win the rest of the games but also with a bonus point wherever possible.

Kandy SC led by Roshan Weeraratne got an outstanding outfit. Their failure to settle earlier in the tournament cost them dearly this season. Their forwards are led by Sayuru Anthony who led them from the front being outstanding in attack as well in defence. He is well supported by hooker Damith Dissanayake and prop Mohamed Ali playing in his first full season. Number 8 Buwanka Udangangamuwa being rock solid this season had one week of rest and will return for today’s vital clash.

Kandy three quarter line is mouth-watering and any coaching staff’s dream. You cannot ask for any better players than Nigel Ratwatte, Richard Dharmapala, Gayan Weeraratne and of course Asian star, Dhanushka Ranjan. Their fullback and youngster Thailina Wijesinghe too clicked in well with a unit. If space given to any of these lads “Red Shirts” will be in deep trouble today.

CR on the other hand has a well-balanced outfit with the majority of them being very young. Their leaders guided them well this season. Ishan Noor, Costa brothers, Prince Chamara, Shashan Mohamed and Omalka Gunaratne are all a class apart from many in the club rugby.

Kandy Head Coach Sean Wijesinghe said: “We might beat them by 50 plus points in Kandy but CR has always been a very competitive outfit when it comes in playing at Longdon Place. Last time we played with a set of the best overseas players, still the end result was a draw. So we are looking forward to a good game of rugby. On experience we are slightly better equipped to handle the situation but we are yet to field our best combination due to injury worries.”

CR Head Coach Ben Macdougall said: “The boys are playing great rugby this season with some big wins and very close games. The Kandy game is a much-looked-to forward fixture and a crowd puller and we are looking forward to turn tables at home. The team is geared up for what will no doubt be a scintillating game of rugby this weekend, going by the last few matches and the skills displayed by a balanced side this year.”

Leading referee Dinka Peiris will handle this encounter.

Havies continue winning streak

By Shamzeer Jaleel

Havelocks Sports Club continued their winning form in the Inter Club league rugby tournament when they outplayed Police SC by 29 points (4 tries, 3 conversions, 1 penalty) to 13 points (1 try, 1 conversion, 2 penalties) under lights at Havelock Park yesterday.

At the short breather it was Police who led 6/5