Club rugby action returns to the hills

Kandy's Number 8 Buwanka Udangamuwa has been in top form this seasonn

By Shamseer Jaleel

Club rugby will return to the packed Nittawela Rugby Stadium when the defending champions and only unbeaten side in the league so far, Kandy Sports Club, lock horns with CH&FC on 2 February.

Kandy will return to the hills after a 50-day-long wait for their supporters when their team was playing away in the stifling heat of Colombo. Led by Nigel Ratwatte and ably supported by Tharinda Ratwatte, Kavindu Perera, Danushka Dyan, Sayuru Anthony and Damith Dissnayake, the upcountry lads are always at their best when they play in front of their home crowd. Their coach Fazil Marija has done really well this season to help the club remain unbeaten and well clear of Police, who sit second in the league with 12 points, with four important home games left in round two.

Meanwhile, CH&FC will miss out on the services of Rohitha Rajapksa. The outfit has lacked teamwork this season despite some big names crossing over from Havelocks. Chamara Dabare, Nishon Perera, Hirantha Perera and Dilshan all played well in patches but never as a unit. Furthermore, their kicking worries continued, with the evergreen Samuwantha letting down his side with some poor kicks at goal and weak penalty kicks. Kandy should give their fans plenty to cheer about with a bonus point win in this clash. Gihan Yatawara will be the referee for the game.

Meanwhile, the Army Sports Club, who, despite losing, displayed excellent running rugby against Havelocks, will meet Air Force.

Ashan Bandara, Mohamed Rizvi, Senanayake and Gayan Salinda will look to play a major role in this game if they are to hold onto their current position of sixth in the league, which is below their usual standards, after they made a very good start. Under former Dharmaraja College and national Sevens and fifteens player Radhika Hettiarachchi, the soldiers will look to bounce back although it will be too late for them to salvage their league campaign. However, it will equip them with confidence for the knockouts which will follow later.

Meanwhile, Air Force have been grounded throughout the season, with their only point coming off a victory against CH&FC outfit at home. Gayantha Iddamalgoda has been their lone standout player. It is doubtful that they can make any major inroads against Army. Dilum Dheeshana will be the official for this encounter.

Havies holds edge in traditional clash with CR

Havelocks will be all out to grab a win against CR&FC away at Longdon Place. Under the coaching of Sanath Martis, considering they have had limited player resources available to them, they have done remarkably well to remain third in the league. 

After their defeat to defending champions Kandy, the park club bounced back with a win against the soldiers last weekend. 

Led by the regularly unstoppable Mithun Hapugoda, who is well supported by Shaukat Lahir, Naveen Heenakankanmge, Sandesh Jayawickrema and Ajmeer Fajudeen, Havies have all the firepower to pull off a win in this close affair.

Meanwhile, CR&FC too had a narrow shave when they beat Navy away at Welisara through a last-minute try. Kevin Dixon, Reza Rafaideen, Skipper Omalka Gunaratne, Reza Mubarak and Dinuk Amarasinghe are all high-quality players set to star for the Longdon Place club. Praneeth Weranga will be the referee for the game.

The Police Sports Club has done really well to climb up to second position in the league. They lost Emosi due to injury, with him being sidelined for at least another two games but they have got yet another Fijian coming in to replace him until then.

Janith Chandimal, the Silva brothers and Deen have played a major role this season for Police. They slid in the league over the past several years but their current play has offered them plenty of optimism, but they are too far behind to catch Kandy for the top position. 

On the other side of the coin, their upcoming opponents Navy have currently suffered a drop in form, and sit in fifth position. However, they are a side capable of breaking into the top three. Chathura Seneviratne, Gihan Perera, Thilina Weerasinghe and Musheen Faleel have played their hearts out but did not last the entire 80 minutes of play which was a major concern for the Welisara outfit. Police hold the edge in this encounter. Referee Ishanka Abeykoon will control action out in the middle.