CH hold the edge over Havies

Dialog Rugby League 2018/2019

By Shamseer Jaleel

CH & FC under Yoshitha Rajapakse will be firing all cylinders in order to secure their first win in the league when they play Havies under lights on 16 November.

CH & FC who were edged out by their traditional rivals CR & FC will be at full strength for this encounter. Muthuthanthri, Lee Keegale, Yoshitha,Hirantha Perera and their ever-reliable placekicker, Samuel Maduwantha will be the key for their good performance at this outing.

Meanwhile, the Park Club after getting the better of Army SC thanks to the second half rally will be not wanting to go down without giving a fight. The majority of their players were lost to CH this season. So it will be a good battle as they play against their former club at this vital encounter. 

The Park Club is led by Niroshan Fernando well supported by Sharo Fernando, Mithun Hapugoda, Sandun Herath, Chamara Dabare and Dushmantha Priyadhrashana.

Referee: P. Weeranga

CR aim at second win

CR & FC under Kavindu Perera will be playing Navy SC at Welisara on 17 November, hoping to win their second encounter in tandem.

CR though ball handling was under average produced some brilliant teamwork to pull off a nail biter against CH & FC, thanks to Tharinda Ratwatte’s 60-meter penalty kick at goal which took them through by a 1 point win.

CR under their belt has the best set of local players. Omalka Gunaratne, Tharinda Ratwatte, Reza Rafaideen, and Kavindu Perera are in a class of their own and can run circles around their opponent side. 

Navy will be led by reliable placekicker, Thilina Weerasinghe well supported by Dinusha Chathuranga, Mohamed Abzal, Buddhima Piyaratne, Harsha Maduranga, and Musheen Faleel. 

CR should be careful not to concede any penalty kicks to the Sailors where Thilina will kick anything in a 60-meter range without any difficulty. This game could be a good battle between Tharinda Ratwatte and Thilina Weerasinghe in place kickings.

Referee: Aaqil Jamaldeen

Air Force and Army aim for their first win

Both Sri Lanka Air Force and Sri Lanka Army will be eying their first win in the league when the Air Force hosts the soldiers at Ratmalana on November 18. Air Force though lost they put up a brave effort against the defending champions, Kandy SC last weekend. Soldiers did not perform as expected against the Havies will need to come up with a better performance in this encounter.

Referee: Ishanka Abeykoon

Kandy at home against Cops

Kandy Sports Club will be playing a packed stadium at Nittawela when the defending champions play the Cops in their first home game this season this Sunday.

Kandy though won they were unimpressive. Led by Richard Dharmapala they will be missing the service of Sooriyabandara, Gayan and Heshan Kalhara, all nursing injuries. Yakoob Ali, Jason Dissanayake, Dhanushka Ranjan, Nigel Ratwatte, Arshard Jamaldeen, Richard Dharmapala, Lavanga Perera and Thilina Wijesinghe, all national players, will be tough to stop.

Meanwhile, the Cops played their hearts out against the Sailors and losing out by one point will be at their best. Led by Chanaka Udara supported by Romesh Arachchige and the Fijian Emosi Vunivosa, they will be all out in putting a major upset.

Referee: Sarath Madugalle