No battles of the supremoes but upsets likely to continue

 Isipathana versus Joes today at CR & FC will be an

interesting contest

Debutants Zahira will face Science tomorrow

Dialog Schools Rugby League 2023 – Week 3 Preview

Although the week 3 calendar doesn’t necessarily comprise battles of the supremoes, one can expect the games to get refined and the upsets to continue. After 2 weeks into the season, we may be in a reasonably good position to predict the outcome of some of the matches.

Let’s have a run through the upcoming matches in week 3, and see how each one is poised based on the teams’ previous performances.

Joes vs Pathana at CR & FC on 30 June:

Many would have been looking forward to this clash, even many Moons before this season began. However, it’s quite heartbreaking to finally realize that it is not going to be the battle that most envisioned. 

Although there was nothing much wrong with the Joes’ season opener, their game seems to have slumped, maybe due to the fact that they were totally outsmarted by carefully selected tactics and preparation by St. Anthony’s. Nearly 20 penalties given away, and over 10 handling errors, is usually a feature of a team from the lower Segment. These abundant number of errors totally neutralised their offensive, without Wesley having to even lift a Finger. However, the good news is that they have hardened their defences extremely well in their last game, and they have got one more week to get their morale up and their game back on. They know very well that it shall be curtains for them if they lose this one.

As for the seemingly impeccable, high riding defending Champions, the Thomians exposed their major weakness of not being able to withstand a powerful pick ‘n drive onslaught last weekend. The Joes could capitalise on this if, and only if, they manage to get close to the Pathana goal line. They could achieve this by exploiting Pathana’s second weakness, where they were found to be generous in dishing out penalties when defending in their own territory.

Let’s hope that Joes manage to fix the rest of their passing shortcomings, and turn up on Friday to display a pristine and gritty performance to open week 3.

STC vs Kingswood at Big Club Ground on 1 July:

This is expected to be a close encounter although the Thomians would have a slight edge, having performed relatively better against Isipathana. Nevertheless, Kingswood had 2 weeks to prepare for this game, and one could bet that they would have closely studied the Thoras to take them on with confidence. As mentioned in an earlier article, Kingwood was pacified by the dominating Pathana outfit in their first game, where they were not allowed to exhibit much skill plays by their Backs, and various other unforeseen talents. These are surely expected to sparkle on Saturday, along with their sheer enthusiasm for the game, and an unquenchable thirst for their first victory.

STC would have to sharpen their reflexes and act quickly, in order to curtail a quicker Kingswood Backs unit on a dry Turf. They could surely attack successfully with their Forwards to penetrate the Kingswood defence, in case their Backs don’t make it count. We are looking at a thriller on Saturday evening down College Avenue.

Royal vs Vidyartha at Royal Complex on 1 July:

This would be a match between the heavyweights and the featherweights, and Royal’s Backs will be tested much better in this game, than in their previous encounter with Science College. Having little knowledge of the Zahira unit that RC is scheduled to face next weekend, this game will help them to get closer to their aspiration for perfection.

Vidyartha would have quite an uphill task for them, way down the Hill in Colombo on Saturday. Although Vidyartha has its own class and speciality in Rugby which is a treat to watch, the job at hand is overwhelming indeed. In order to survive this ordeal, they would have to start off the game without their usual disguise, which is taken off only at the last stages of their games. Instead, they would have to start off as the ravaging Tigers this time, and continue their attitude expecting to hold the Tuskers in a defensive position, hoping that the opposition will make mistakes that they could capitalise on. Taking all penalties within kicking range would be advisable, only if they manage to maintain a slender deficit.

This would be the match the Vidyarthians would put all their skills, energy and enthusiasm to maximum use. One could also expect the decades of Vidyartha Rugby experience, and their wealth of knowledge would be condensed to strategize the game plan for this encounter, in order to give the Boys from Kandy a better chance.

Dharmaraja vs Peter’s at Bogambara on 1 July:

St. Peter’s will be playing their second match of the season, against a strong Dharmaraja unit, who will further test the Bamba Boys. SPC had a few deficiencies in the Royal match, and hopefully they have sorted them out, and managed to elevate their game during the past two weeks. If not, this match could turn out to be a close one.

Dharmaraja is a much better side than what they have attained. Touch kicking to gain massive territories, strong place kicking, good rucking, turning over line-outs, and are able to attack reasonably well with their Forwards as well as the Backs. They require composure and discipline in order to elevate their game, as they possess all the required Rugby skills in all departments of the game. The sooner they achieve this, the faster they can uplift their game close to the level of the top teams of the League. If not, they will be just another mediocre team, wasting all the wonderful talents that they have acquired for this season. The main reason for their loss against Zahira is none other than this. Therefore, one can only hope that they will realize this and come to terms with their nerves, and follow the rules of the game.

Zahira vs Science at Zahira Grounds on 1 July:

Unfortunately, there was no video footage available from Zahira’s first game to figure out what kind of a team they are, or their strengths and weaknesses, in order to make decisive game play speculations. However, as per the reports received, Zahira seems to be well equipped in all aspects of the game, such as superior place kicking, touch kicking, defending under heavy pressure, and effectively attacking with the Forwards especially utilising the rolling maul. Hence one could presume that they will be walking into this game as the favourites.

Science will be unquestionably going all out to secure their first win of the season, but they will be unable to succeed unless they get their game back up, at least to the level where it was in their season opener. 

Wesley vs DSS at Royal Complex on 2 July:

With Wesley’s form from last week, they are in no position to take on a strong and triumphant DS unit. Although DS did have a bit of a problem with Ball handling, their misery is incomparable to that of the double blues. No one can possibly imagine how they could get to this state, after a splendid show in their first match against the Thomians. Let’s all hope that it was just a jinxed, one-off occurrence, and that things will be back to normal for us to enjoy a close contest on Sunday.

DSS will take the field as the favourites and will be quite confident in getting their second win of the season. Yet they will be up against some strong defences, quite different from what they faced against St. Anthony’s. Hence, the DS offensives will be tested in different ways, that would help improve their onslaught.

Trinity and St. Anthony’s will take a break in the third week.