Thriller awaits at CR Havies traditional encounter

Saturday, 9 December 2017 00:00 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Week 6 of the Dialog Inter Club encounters will be worked off this weekend and the traditional game between Havies and CR should be a thrilling encounter with CR showing some marked improvement in their last game against Kandy though ending on the losing side.

CH should pull it off

Confident CH & FC will be all out for a win against the low-placed Sri Lanka Air Force. CH which already beat CR and almost pulled off wins against Havies and the Cops is the “Dark Horse” of the tournament. They will have Lee Keegale back after the suspension along with Sathya Ranathunge, Sajith Saranga and Yoshitha Rajapaksa all in peak form. Samuel Maduwantha who was nursing an injury is likely to start and will be a key player with his kicks at goal and territorial kicking; he will be a major boost for the Colombo 7 outfit. Air Force will depend on Iddamalgoda kicking and Charith Seneviratne and Radheesha Senaratne, all star players who could be a major threat for CH. On form CH should pull it off.

Referee Aaqil Jamaldeen

Army hold the edge

Army should have things their own way and go ahead for a comfortable win over the cops who are going through a tough season. Army will depend heavily on Gayan Salinda’s accuracy in place kicks. Ashoka Jayalal and skipper Senanayake will play a vital part if the soldiers are to pull it off and continue their hunt for a top three ending after round 1. Police are in their first year with many newcomers but their Head Coach Shamly Nawas is a good reader of the game. But time will solve their issues and they could be a threat for many teams in the coming years.

Referee Irshard Cader

Kandy in the lead

Kandy Sports Club once again will be at home against the sailors this weekend. Kandy, the defending champions, already dominated the first round with bonus points in as many as four encounters, missing out on the CH game only. They will welcome Shehan Pathirana who was suspended at the CH game and banned for four matches. Unfortunately there was no inquiry held for the player over the last four months. He will be back for his second game this season. Also Kandy is likely to start with their regular scrum half, Roshan Weeraratne. This will push Sooriyabandara to come in the later half. Their three quarter line is lightning fast with Dharmapala, Wilwara and Ranjan all showing clean pairs of legs producing running rugby. Sailors will heavily depend on their skipper, Dhanushka Perera, Thilina Weerasinghe, Pushpakumara and Kosala Tissera. Sailors should be mindful to play to their best and not to go for the man instead of the ball.

Referee Priyantha Gunaratne

CR and Havies

should be a thriller

CR & FC will be expecting to continue their improvement in play when they lock horns with Havies. Tharinda Ratwatte, Omalka Gunaratne and Shashan Mohamed will make a huge impact if the Longdon Place club is to win this vital encounter. Havies will miss the service of Kevin Dexion but will have Dulaj Perera, Nishon Perera, Rahul De Silva and Sharo Fernando, the key players for the Park Club, and this will be a real tester for Park Club Head Coach Sanath Martis before they meet the defending champions Kandy in their next encounter at home.

Referee Dinka Peiris

(SJ)