CR out to continue winning form

Dialog Rugby League 2018/2019 

By Shamseer Jaleel 

CR & FC will be all out to continue their winning streak when they confront Police SC at Police Park. 

CR & FC, under Kavindu Perera, had done remarkably well to win both their matches played so far in the league. They beat their traditional rivals CH & FC in their opener and then got the better of the sailors away in Welisara. 

CR is fielding one of their best outfits in the last two decades, with them possessing an equal share of experience and young blood. Tharinda Ratwatte, Kavindu Perera, Supun Warnakulasuriya, Reza Rafaideen and Rahul De Silva all lived up to expectation for a league return to Longdon Place after many decades. They are coached by Nilfer Ibrahim, one of the best in the country who could get the best out of the lads and bring them together as a unit. 

Meanwhile, the cops under Shamly Nawas’s coaching did well to go down fighting against Navy by a single point, while their Kandyan journey was not a leisurely one as they gave their best and the forwards played their hearts out. They missed out on two scoring opportunities in the game. If these had gone their way they would have made history in Nittawela last weekend. Sachith Silva, Gihan Silva, Chanaka Udara and Arachchige will play a vital role. Fijian Emosi Vunivosa, who occupies a spot on the team, was an excellent team player who was not selfish and did not try to do everything by himself. On form CR should pull it off but only just. 

Defending champions Kandy though won both their matches against Air Force away and Police at home. They were unimpressive in both encounters. For a side with such talent one game is all it takes to bring out their best and that game could come against the soldiers. Full of national players such as Richard Dharmapala, Nigel Ratwatte, Dhanushka Ranjan, Danushka Dyan, Jason Dissanayake and Lavanga Perera, they possess a very threatening three-quarter line. 

Yakoob Ali and Sayuru Anthony led from the front. With Roshan Weeraratne operating from the base, spectators did not have a chance to former UAE player Imad Riyal in action during the first two encounters. 

Kandy will once again miss out on the services of Gayan Weeraratne, Srinarth Soooriyabandara and Lasith Attanagalla who are all out with injuries. Meanwhile, the soldiers, who were beaten by Havelocks, came back strongly to beat Air Force in their last encounter. Led by Upul Abeyratne, Mohamed Rizvi, Gayan Salinda and Fijians Boila and Ualuva, the soldiers could be a threatening outfit. However, Kandy will be favoured to win with a bonus point in Ratmalana. 

Havies, after losing the majority of their players to CH & CR, have done well under Niroshan Fernando. The park club, with players as Sharo Fernando, Sandun Herath, Dushmanth Priyadharshana, Mithun Hapugoda and Prince Chamarahave, won both their encounters. Against the sailors they hold the edge playing at home. Navy will be led by kicking sensation Thilina Weerasinghe. They will be expecting a lot from players such as Buddhima Piyaratne, Mohamed Abzal and Dinusha Chathuranga to register a win in their second league game after being beaten by CR last weekend in Welisara. On form, Havies should walk home with a win. 

The last game of the weekend will be the one between CH & FC and Air Force at Racecourse. Much was expected by CH, who are led by Yoshitha Rajapaksa, but they lost out to CR and Havies by a single point in both encounters. Such a talented outfit, with players such as Muthuthanthri, Hirantha Perera, Rajapaksa, Naveen Heenakankanmge and Lee Keegale too good to be written off from the league race. 

Meanwhile, Air Force, led by Lahiru Udayanga, will have Iddamalgoda, Charles Praveen and Saumaki from Fiji. They too have put up two brave efforts against Kandy and Army. CH & FC is expected to come away from this encounter with their first win. 

November 23 

 Havelocks SC vs. Navy SC            

Havelock Park   6.30 p.m. 

Referee Priyantha Gunaratne

 

 November 24 

 Kandy SC vs. Army SC                    

Ratmalana 

Referee Rohan Fernando

 Police vs. CR & FC Police Park 

Referee Dinka Peiris

 

November 25 

 CH & FC vs. Air Force                     

Racecourse 

Referee P. Weeranga