Titanic battle between Kandy and Havies to decide league

Friday, 3 February 2017 00:00 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

By Shamzeer Jaleel

What a game on the card. This is the one all rugby fans have been waiting for the whole season. This is the return leg of the Kandy SC and Havies encounter which will decide who will keep the Inter Club League this year when both teams lock horns at the Park Club grounds on February 5.

Kick-off is scheduled at 6:30 p.m. under lights.

Kandy SC has impressed in the second round with some fine team effort. Arguably the best outfit this year, hit badly due to the defeat at the hands of Air Force in the first round but took sweet revenge when they went passed the same team in a 11-try blitz at Nittawela last weekend. Kandy got the best set of three quarter line. Other than their Full Back, Thilina Wijesinghe, all are national jersey winners both in the shorter and the longer version of the game.

Led by skipper Roshan Weeraratne, Fazil Marija, Nigel Ratwatte, Vishwamithra Jayasinghe, Dhanushka Ranjan, Gayan Weeraratne and Richard Dharmapala, all class players at any format locally as well as in the Asian circuit feared by many teams with some natural talent.

At present both Dharmapala and Ranjan are at their peak will be unstoppable. If space is given Havies will be in deep trouble. In forwards play they are led by Buwanka Udangamuwa, the former Rajans player displaying high quality power rugby with support coming his way from Sayuru Anthony and Mohamed Yakoob Ali.

For the Park Club they will like to make a come-back after their defeat in Kandy in the first round which was the only negative point this season. They too have ample talent with players such as Hirantha Perera, Dulaj Perera, Sudharshan Muthuthanthri, Sharo Fernando and Mithun Hapugoda all game changers. On form Kandy looks a yard faster but playing at home and under lights makes the game even.

Air Force who had a grand year maintaining the number 5 position so far should have things their own way when they confront the last placed CH & FC at Ratmalana.

Army SC though unlucky on most occasions improved their game plan in their last two matches knocking off CR & FC and Navy should get the better of Police SC.

February 3 (today)

nCR & FC vs Navy SC       Longdon Place

Referee Aruna Rankothge

nAir Force vs CH & FC       Ratmalana

Referee Priya Suranga

February 5

nHavelocks SC vs Kandy SC   Havelock Park

Referee Charlie Brown (Singapore)

nArmy SC vs Police SC       Police Park

Referee Priyantha Gunaratne