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Saturday Apr 27, 2024
Friday, 22 February 2019 00:00 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}
By Shamseer Jaleel
Rugby will it be at its best when the two semi-finals of the Cup and Plate segments are worked off this weekend with three games in Colombo and one in Kandy.
In the Cup segment Table leader, Havies will lock horns with their traditional rivals CR & FC at the Park while Kandy will host CH & FC at Nittawela.
Match points earned in the Rugby League 2018/2019 – 1st Round, 2nd Round and Rugby League Super Round Cup Championship will be added together, and the team which gets the highest number of points will be declared as the winner of the Rugby League Cup Championship 2018/2019. This means in the Cup segment Havies, Kandy and CH & FC got equal opportunities of clinching the Cup this time around.
Havies will be the firmly favoured team to pull off their encounter against the unpredictable, CR & FC. Havies been the most outstanding team in both round 1 and 2 will be heavily depending on Sharo Fernando, Madushanka (MRI to be cleared), ChamareDabare and Riza Mubarak all being in their peak. Second half entry of MithunHapugoda always worked out for the Park Club’s favour. They will miss out on Dinuk Amarasinghe who is yet to recover from his injury.
Meanwhile the Red Shirts will be heavily depending on Tharinda Ratwatte who won many encounters for the Longdon Place Club. Unfortunately he was not included in the starting line-up. Omalka Gunaratne, Reza Rafaideen, Kavindu Perera and Kevin Dixon will be top class players difficult to be kept under control. On form Havies should be on their way for the final encounter without being troubled much.
Kandy SC will be playing their last home game at Nittawela this season when they confront the second round unbeaten CH & FC. Kandy dropped down three games where they lost out to Havies, CH & FC and Army, being heart-breaking for their supporters. Once again they will miss out on Sooriyabandara and BuwankaUdangamuwa, both out with injuries. Shehan Pathirana, Yakoob Ali, Wilwara, Ranjan are playmakers. Their fullback Thilina Wijesinghe was put under pressure in the Havies game and should look out for passing option more than aimless kicking which puts the three quarters under pressure defending most part of the game.
CH & FC will depend on the return of their regular skipper, Yoshitha Rajapaksa. Experienced Muthuthanthri, Anuradha Herath, SudamSooriyarachchi and Hirantha Perera will be at their peak for this encounter. Home town lad, Samuel Maduwantha will be tested fully with up and unders plus his kick at goal will be vital for the Colombo Club. Both teams need a win here in a sudden death encounter.
Soon after the conclusion of the league Clifford Cup knockout encounters will be worked off in Kandy and Colombo at neutral venues with the eight teams locking horns for the oldest trophy on offer.
February 23
Cup
February 24
Cup
