Kandy should have things their own way

By Shamseer Jaleel

Kandy will be in Colombo once again when they lock horns with Police for their second league encounter. 

After an uneven start, the defending champions will be looking forward to a better display and will look for their players to settle into the game early. The cops on the other hand will need to overcome a huge challenge in keeping the strong Kandy three-quarter line silent. Kandy have looked the best team in the club arena this year. Richard Dharmapala, Nigel Ratwatte, Fazil Marija, Dhanushka Ranjan, Anurudha Wilwara and Thilina Wijesinghe are all tough players. Marija, who is playing his last season for Kandy, will also look to be at his peak. 

Even the ranks of their forwards boast solid players such as Sayuru Anthony, Damith Dissnayake, Yakoob Ali and Shehan Pathirana. Kandy skipper Gayan Weeraratne will be returning to lead the outfit. Scrum Half Roshan Weeraratne, who is still nursing a neck injury, is expected to return to the side in two weeks. 

Police will be expecting a lot from Arachchige and Zahiran Singhawansa to contain the high-riding Kandy. Kandy will be looking for a bonus point win here to reduce the gap between them and Havelocks. The game will be refereed by Irshard Cader.

Havelocks, the league runner-up last year, was the only team to secure a bonus point during the first week in their game against the cops which was a one-sided affair. The park club will be at home against Air Force who put up a gutsy performance against CR in the first week of competition. 

The park club though will be without Muthu, who is away in New Zealand. However, they have performed well under Jason Melder, who has the services of Dulaj Perera, Kevin Dixon, Nison Perera and Sharo Fernando. The team’s products from St. Peter’s College are no strangers to their Head Coach Sanath Martis, who coached at the school some years back. 

Air Force will depend heavily on Iddamalgoda’s kicks to gain territory to play in their opponents’ half and attack from there. Going according to form, Havelocks should make it home without any major trouble. The game will be refereed by Dinka Peiris.

CH, after their excellent performance against defending champions Kandy, will be up against the soldiers in their second league encounter. CH possess some outstanding players who crossed over from the Navy outfit and they will be their key players in order for them to overcome the Army outfit.   

Sajith Saranga, Chanaka Chandimal, Sathya Ranathunge and Lee Keegale will all be well-marked players for this encounter. Army will depend heavily on Gayan Salinda’s boot to gain territory along with Asoka Jayalal’s experience to guide them through. The referee for this game will be Priya Suranga.

CR, after their average performance in their opener against Air Force, will be up against a much stronger Navy team at home. CR has got some young blood in their ranks with Tharinda Ratwatte leading from the front. The national Sevens player is omnipresent in both attack and defence. His skipper, Kavindu Perera, is also a strong runner and will be well backed up by Seshan Mohamed. 

The sailors will expect skipper Dhanushka Perera to lead from the front. Though they have lost many marquee players they are no pushovers. Pushpakumara, Thilina Weerasinghe and Dinusha Chathuranga are all very difficult players to handle on their day. The referee for the game is Rohan Fernando.

Matches:

Kandy vs. Police                11 November                Police Park

CH&FC vs. Army        10 November                Racecourse        

CR vs. Navy                        12 November                Longdon Place        

Air Force vs. Havelocks        10 November        Havelock Park (under lights)