Blockbuster encounter at Nittawela

By Shamseer Jaleel

Nippon Inter Club Rugby League will come to an end this weekend with the Blockbuster encounter between the defending champions and the only unbeaten outfit this season, Kandy Sports Club locking horns with CR and FC at the Nittawela Rugby Stadium on 19 February.

Kick-off is scheduled at 4 p.m.

Though already Kandy SC is guaranteed of the trophy and unlikely huge win by CR in this encounter the Red Shirts were beaten only once this season that too by the Up-Country outfit. This defeat at home was very costly for the Longdon Place club who are celebrating their Centenary year.

Kandy SC who are hit by major two worries this season, one being losing out nearly six of their seniors, a few migrated overseas and rest switched to Colombo clubs. They never expected such a lot of injuries for their youngsters which put them on the backfoot. Skipper Damith Dissnayake, Lasith Attanagoda, Heshan Kalhara, Wevala Panditha, Hehsan Kalhara, Dhanushka Ranjan, Diluksha Dange and Anuruddha Wilwara all being in the injured list. Only Damith could come back later in the second half. The youngsters lived up to high standard displaying a lot of maturity, many playing their first season for the champion club. They had the best set of three-quarter line but lack of good ball put them in a spot of bother but still the youngsters remained unbeaten which is a great effort. Nigel Ratwatte, Tharinda Ratwatte, Kavindu Perera and Lavanga Perera all being top class players and youngster, Dinal Ekanayake at wing showed a lot of promise for Kandy SC playing his first few years of club rugby.

Meanwhile CR and FC, too possess a quality outfit and lived up to high standard going back to their performance in early 2000’s. Forwards such as Soyuru Anthony and Ashan Darling is a dream of any coach. Skipper Kavindu de Costa, Mursheed Doray and Chatura Seneviratne are top class players who could make some ghost moves against Kandy. Chatura being outstanding in his territory game plus kick at goal is a big advantage for the Red Shirts. The former Kingswoodian lived up to high standards after crossing over a few seasons with the Sailors. The Red Shirt turned things around and ended on number 2 in the season which is a special year for them as they celebrate the Centenary year under Ted Muttiah their President. 

On form it could be a close encounter with Kandy holding the edge playing at home in front of a packed house at Nittawela which will be their last league game this year.

Navy and Havies play for number 3

Both Sri Lanka Navy Sports Club and Havelock Sports Club smarting from their defeat in the Super 4 Cup segment will be all out to end on a winning note to secure number 3 position. At present Havies are at 26 points while the Sailors are at number 4 slot with 21 points. A bonus point win here will push them ahead to number 3 and on a better footing for the Clifford Cup which will be worked off soon after this encounter.

Havies have got Abdullah Faiz, Sandesh Jayawickrema, Shehan Diaz and Mithun Hapugoda. Mithun did not look that great last weekend as he is recovering from an injury and will be all out to give his best with 100 plus match appearances for the Park Club. Meanwhile the Sailors will heavily depend on Musheen Faleel, Thilina Weerasinghe,

Kandy SC (probable)

Malith Wijesundera, Damith Dissanayake (Capt), Praveen Charles, Thilina Bandara, Chatura Soysa, Bawantha Dharmapala, Sanushka Abeywickrema, Fawmy Wajid, Heshan Jensen. Nigel Ratwatte, Dinal Ekanayake, Tharinda Ratwatte, Lavanga Perera, Kavindu Perera and Srinarth Sooriyabandara.

CR and FC  from

Dilshan Jayah, Supun Warunakulasuriya, Lahiru Pavithra, Kaveen Vikum, Ashan Darling, Kalindu Kariyavasam, Gayan Dilshan, Shehan Kalaniyangoda, Suhiru Anthony, Raveen De Silva, Jero Dananjaya, Achitha Radeshan, Eranda Harshana, Kavindu de Costa (Capt), Viduna Amaneth, Kalindu Nandila, Thenuka Nanayakkara, Ruchira Ekanayake, Chathura Seneviratne, Gemnun Chetiya, Yasas Kavindu, Mursheed Doray and Lakshan Muthunayake

Referee Gihan Yatawara

Navy SC (probable side)

Charith Silva, Pulasthi Dissanayake, Deshan Viumkthi, Dananjaya Seneviratna, Nirosh Perera, Adeesha Weerathunge, Gihan Perera, Janith Laksara, Harsha Maduranga (Capt), Dinesh de Silva, Thilina Weerasinghe, Musheen Faleel, Lahiru Herath, Thanuja Malimbada and Samuel Maduwantha

Havelock SC (probable side)

Abdullah Faiz, Nepul Athukorale, Shenuka Herath, Shehan Diaz, Nizran Mohamed, Christian de Lile, Maleesha Madumewa, Joel Perera, Vimukthi Rahula (Capt), Sandesh Jayawickrema, Ramesh Fernando, Chanaka Chandimal, Iranga Ariyapala, Randika Warnapura and Mithun Hapugoda.

Referee Hasantha Weranga

Meanwhile in the Super 4 Plate segment, Sri Lanka Police SC and Sri Lanka Air Force SC will battle it out with the winner taking the Plate win in the Nippon Rugby Inter Club League 2022/2023.

17 February

Police vs Air Force              

Police Park

Referee Ishanka Abeykoon

18 February

Havelock SC vs Navy SC            

Havelock Park

Referee Hasantha Weranga

Army SC vs Ch and FC       

Panagoda

Referee Priyantha Gunaratne

19 February

Kandy SC vs CR and FC               

Nittawela

Referee Gihan Yatawara