Havelocks’ unbeaten run under threat in Kandy

By Shamseer Jaleel

The first round of matches of the 2016/2017 club rugby league will come to an end this weekend with a titanic battle between defending champions Kandy and an unbeaten Havelocks which will be played in Nittawela this Sunday.

This week’s matches will commence with the game between Air Force and Navy in Ratmalana today. Navy will be hoping to end the first round on a high note in this encounter. Lee Keegale, Dhanushka Perera, Sathya Ranathunga and their reliable place kicker Thilina Weerasinghe are all in good nick and will look to get the better of the Air Force outfit. 

The airmen too displayed quality rugby this season, beating the defending champions and securing fourth position in the league so far which is a remarkable achievement. Their skipper Iddamalgoda and their reliable place kicker Chathura Seneviratne have both been omnipresent for the forces outfit this season.

On 17 December there will be two games contested in Colombo. The first one will be between CR&FC and CH&FC. CR, despite playing quality rugby against Kandy, made some basic errors in the second half of the match which cost them three converted tries and led to them losing their focus. Once again their playmaker Tharinda Ratwatte played a major role for the Longdon Place Club in this game. He was present everywhere when on attack and his defence was excellent with him launching into some brilliant cover tackles. He has played an intelligent game for the red shirts not only in this fixture but throughout the season, maturing into a good club player in his debut year in club rugby.  

Much will be expected from Omalka Gunaratne, Kavindu Perera, Shashan Mohamed and Ishan Noor. CH, who are placed last in the league, have nothing to lose and everything to gain from this encounter.

In the other game Police will meet Army at Police Park. Police are going through a lean patch and will be hoping their playmaker Musheen Faleel recovers in time for this encounter. Radheesha Seneviratne, Mohamed Abzal and Reza Rafaideen are all at their peak and will give a good account of themselves. 

Army have lost three games which they could have turned in their favour. If this had occurred they would have ended in the top three in the league. They will depend heavily on Ariyapala, Gayan Salinda and Rizvi for this encounter.

Havelocks will be up in the hill capital when they face an acid test against Kandy in Nittawela. Kandy, after regrouping and playing cohesive rugby in the last game, will be back to form and playing at home.

Kandy is always tough opposition to beat. Their three quarter line is the best in the country. Dhanushka Ranjan, Richard Dharmapala, Viswamithra Jayasinghe and fullback Thilina Wijesinghe, who all made their mark in front of their appreciative crowd, are out to repeat once more this weekend. 

Their star Fazil Marija is ruled out due to an injury so Arshard Jamaldeen is likely to start the game for the upcountry club. Buwanaka Udangamuwa heads the forwards who will be required to provide a good and fast ball at breakdown points for the three quarter line to run at will.

Havelocks will be banking on Dulaj Perera, Sudharshan Muthuthanthri, Mithun Hapugoda, Sharo Fernando and Hirantha Perera. If Havies loses then Kandy will reduce the gap and secure second position, giving them a glimmer of hope to defend the title once more.

Matches

Today (16 December)

Air Force vs. Navy in Ratmalana. Referee: Aruna Rankothge        

17 December 

CR&CH at Longdon Place. Referee Rohan Fernando

Police vs. Army at Police Park. Referee: Dinka Peiris

18 December 

Kandy vs. Havelocks in Nittawela. Referee: Priyantha Gunaratne