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Friday, 3 February 2023 00:10 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}
CR Full back Zubair Doray on a move for the Red Shirts
CR and FC having done very well to occupy number two position behind Kandy SC is just four points behind the defending champions in the Nippon Paint Rugby League which moves in to its final phase with the Super 4 Cup segment being worked off this weekend in Colombo. They will host their traditional rivals, Havelock Sports Club. CR won the first round encounter playing away at the Havelock Park.
For the Longdon Place Club this is a special season as they are celebrating their Centenary year in 2023. Chatura Seneviratne their place kicker played a major role for the Red Shirts with his booming kicks to touch which found a lot of territory for the Longdon Place club to attack through their three-quarter line this season. Red Shirts got some class acts such as Wageesha Weerasinghe, Ashan Darling, Lasindu Ishan, Thenuka Nanayakkara and skipper Kavindu de Costa in their starting line-up.
Meanwhile, Havies will be led by Vimukthi Rahula after their originally appointed skipper Umesh Madushan migrated to UK landing a heavy blow for the Park Club. Havies will depend heavily on Azmir Fajudeen, Christian de Lile, Vimukthi Rahula and Mithun Hapugoda. The former Peterite Sandesh Jayawickrema so far had an outstanding season is expected to continue his good form which is a bonus for the Park Club.
Sandesh kick at goal being on top which supported the Havies outfit to attack from opposition half most of the time. Park Club so far faced three defeats at the hands of their traditional rivals, CR and FC early in the league, Police and Kandy SC last weekend while CR and FC only defeat was against Kandy SC. On record CR looks a yard faster should be able to continue their winning form. On form, CR showed lot of promise this season should pull it off.
Last Colombo appearance for Kandy SC in League
Unbeaten defending League champions, Kandy Sports Club will make their last long trip to Colombo in the League this season when they lock horns with Sri Lanka Navy Sports Club at Welisara on 5 February.
Kandy SC had a clean sheet in round one beating all the teams though an unimpressive start they saved the best for their last encounter against Havelock Sports Club which they handed the Park Club with a massive 35/15 defeat. They ended round one on top with 39 points followed by CR and FC at 34 points pushing Havelock SC to number three position and their title re-claim glimmer of hopes faded further with their last defeat.
Damith Dissanayake will once again lead the outfit with Praveen Charles playing an excellent season as their prop forward. He being simply outstanding this season. They too had ample injury worries missing out on nearly four of their senior players. Lasith Attanagoda, Dhanushka Ranjan and Diluksha Dange all will miss this encounter as well due to their injury worries. Their three-quarter line looks the best among clubs with Tharinda Ratwatte, Nigel Ratwatte and full back Sooriyabandara looking solid and peak form.
Meanwhile the Sailors will heavily depend on the kicking boots of Thilina Weerasinghe who had a great job so far for the Sailors. Moreover, Musheen Faleel being outstanding for the Welisara outfit and their skipper and former Isipathana scrum half, Harsha Maduranga being magnificent. He has combined the forwards and three quarters very well and committed player plus leader.
Navy just managed to scrap through to the fourth position in the Cup segment of the Super 4 will need a win badly but Kandy three quarters looks a yard faster to pull this off.
Kandy SC, CR and FC, Havelock SC and Navy SC will play in the Cup segment while in the Plate segment Super 4, Air Force who narrowly missed out on the Cup appearance will host the Solders and in the other Plate encounter CH will host the Cops at Race course.
February 3
Referee Isuru Perera
Referee Kelum Sandaruwan
February 5
Referee Raveen Alexander
Referee Gihan Yatawara
