Saturday Dec 14, 2024
Saturday Dec 14, 2024
Wednesday, 1 January 2020 00:00 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}
By Shamseer Jaleel
Club rugby will come to a vital position this weekend when the two unbeaten teams in the league encounter, the defending champions Kandy Sports Club and CR & FC clash in the first round game, which will take place at Longdon Place this weekend. The winner will certainly have a firm grip on the trophy this year around, with CR & FC making a comeback after two-plus decades to reclaim the trophy.
CR & FC led by national fifteens skipper Omalka Gunaratne lived up to their expected high standards, after several poor performances in the last two to three seasons. Hats off to their principal sponsor SAGT who kept faith in their young outfit. They have beaten Police SC, CH & FC, Army SC and Air Force SC. Red Shirts, coached by Dushantha Lewke and Mohamed Mushtaq have ample armoury under their custody. Without any doubt, their main weapon is Reza Mubarak, who crossed over from the Park Club, having won many games for the Longdon Place Club this season. His place kicking and touch kicks are a piece of class and put many sides under pressure. A safe defence, to cross their line is not an easy task for any team. They also have their skipper, Omalka, Gemunu Cheethiya, Reza Rafaideen, Stephen Sivaraj, Chanaka Chandimal, and Vishwa Ranaraja to come out on top.
Meanwhile, the defending champions are going through a fairly good season, but injury worries are a major concern for them. They have lost out on Dhanushka Ranjan, Richard Dharmapala, Anurudha Wilwara, Roshan Weeraratne, Yakoob Ali, and latest is Thilina Wijesinghe for possible suspension. They are expected to field Roshan Weeraratne and Kavindu Perera for this game after missing several encounters. Sayuru Anthony, Damith Dissanayake, Shehan Pathirana, and Buwanka Udangamuwa stood out for their forwards while their three-quarter line is one of the best among clubs this season. Nigel Ratwatte, Tharinda Ratwatte, Perera brothers, Dange and Kavindu are creators of space and ample speed under their belt. A close encounter is expected - whichever team settles down first and fast will be on the winning side.
Referee: Aaqil Jamaldeen
Navy and Air Force will battle it out not only for their first win but also to avoid the number 8 position in the league. Both teams, though having ample talent, failed to live up to their full 80 minutes of play in more than one game this season. Sailors led by Richie Dharmapala have Musheen Faleel, Thilina Weerasinghe and Chatura Seneviratne in their starting line-up. Meanwhile the Air Force outfit has Ranuka Medagedera, Gayantha Iddamalgoda, Lakmal Rajapakse and Surya Krishan in their outfit. Navy hold a slight edge to pull it off as the game is being played at Welisara.
The Police and CH & FC game is another interesting encounter on the cards this weekend. Cops are playing some cohesive rugby this season with some young talent under their belt this season.
Their Fijian, Emosi Vunivosa, is omnipresent for them playing his second season for the Cops. They also have Shan Akila and Nishal Samadhi. Meanwhile CH & FC are going through a rough patch under Rohitha Rajapakse, with ample talent and certainly a probable candidate for the League being pushed down to the bottom half of the league is a big worry for their Head Coach, Viper Gunaratne who is expected to make several changes sooner than later. Sudam Sooriyarachchi, Dushmantha Priyadharshana, Gayan Weeraratne, Sudharshan Muthuthanthri and Samuel Maduwantha should take them through in this encounter and get in to the top 4.
The last game of this week will be the one between Army and Havies. The Park Club under Mithun Hapugoda has young talent and once more many of their seniors left the club for better prospects. They are under Sanath Martis, who is not new to the coaching stuff at club level, and could turn them around at any moment and definite contender for the league. Fajudeen, Heenakankanmge, Sabar, and Muller are their main weapon, while the Soldiers, after having a dream start, were at the receiving end in Kandy, losing out by 50 plus points and lost out to CR in tandem. Under their Head Radhika Hettiarachchi, with players such as Manoj Bandara, Ashan Bandara and Gayan Salinda they are all out to bounce back.
