Saturday Dec 14, 2024
Saturday Dec 14, 2024
Wednesday, 8 January 2020 00:20 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}
By Shamseer Jaleel
CR & FC will be all out to regain their lost pride when they confront their traditional rival, Havelock Sports Club away at Havelock Park.
CR & FC put up a brave second half effort but ran out of time, plus their first half defence lapse was too much of a deficit for a recovery in the 40 minutes plus injury time against the defending champions, Kandy Sports Club.
CR & FC will be once again led by Omalka Gunaratne, who had a fantastic game last weekend in front of a packed Longdon Place and steamy Colombo conditions. Reza Mubarak, one of the best players in the league at fullback position, will be once again doing the kicking duties, plus his kicking accuracy is well above average. But last weekend he was a bit below his usual high standards. With Kevin Dixon, Dinuk Amarasinghe, Janidu Dilshan and Reza Rafaideen, the “Red Shirts” will be all out for a win to regain their confidence, in order to keep a safe hand on the trophy which kept away from Longdon Place for more than 2 decades.
Meanwhile the Park Club, too, playing some good rugby last weekend, are on number 2 position on equal points with CR & FC. Many left the Park Club this year, but the veteran coach Sanath Martis was never a worried man, and kept faith in his young outfit from the first game. He gave exposure to many young players on the big stage. Ajmeer Fajudeen, Lasindu Ishan, skipper Mithun Hapugoda, Prince Chamara and Naveen Henakankanamge, all top class players. This game could go on to be a thriller, and the decider could be the place kickers from both sides. Reza Mubarak (CR & FC) and Prince Chamara (Havies) are the two of them at centrestage.
Kandy Sports Club will continue their daunting task of traveling down to Colombo for yet another weekend. They will be treated by the steamy Colombo conditions which they will need to see on no less than seven consecutive week-ends. Their last four first round games plus their first three second round games against Navy SC, Air Force SC and Army SC will be away in Colombo.
Kandy will be once again led by little dynamo Nigel Ratwatte who led from the front. He was well supported by Tharinda Ratwatte, Kavindu Perera, Buwanaka Udangamuwa, Roshan Weeraratne, and Shehan Pathirana in their starting line-up. This game could be a tough outing for the CH & FC outfit who are yet to hit their best form. They are never short of talent. Led by Rohitha Rajapakse, Sudam Sooriyarachchi, Sathya Ranathunga, Hirantha Perera, and Samuel Maduwantha are some top-end players. Kandy should be home and continue their winning streak for yet another week before they meet the Park club next weekend.
Meanwhile, Police SC playing cohesive rugby this season, should overcome the last-placed Air Force and Army should notch up a win against the Sailors in the other game.
Kandy Sports Club remain as the only unbeaten team as at week 6 of matches, leading the table with 29 points, followed by CR & FC and Havies, both on 22 points.
January 10
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