Kandy all out to continue unbeaten run in league

By Shamseer Jaleel

Kandy Sport Club will be all out to continue their unbeaten run in the inter Club league encounter when they lock horns with Sri Lanka Navy SC at Welisara on February 20. This will be the pick of the week 13 games. 

Kandy SC which had a narrow shave last weekend against CR & FC at their own den will come out hot favourites in this outing as already four of the Navy players have been suspended by their authorities for wearing a wrist band. 

Players who will not take the field are Dhanushka Perera, Suranga Pushpakuamra, Omalka Gunaratne and Dulanjana Wijesinghe. The Sailors will be heavily depending on Kosala Tissera, Dinusha Fernando, Sathya Ranathunge and Lee Keegale to shoulder the burden. 

Kandy will be fielding their best outfit other than their two injured players, skipper Fazil Marija and Lavanga Perera. Their forwards will see some solid and mobile players such as Sayuru Anthony, Kishore Jahn and Buwanka Udangamuwa. The three quarter-line too have some quality players representing the national team at both shorter and longer version of the game. Richard Dharmapala, Nigel Ratwatte and Gayan Weeraratne will be tough to be stopped by the Sailors. This encounter will be controlled by leading referee Dinka Peiris.

On the same day traditional rivals CR & FC will be hosted by the Havies at Havelock Park. The Red Shirts after their brave effort in Kandy will need to come out on top. But they have some quality players in their rank. They will miss out on their regular skipper Ishan Noor who is out with a knee injury and will miss the next two weeks. 

Wingers Kavindu Perera and Shasan Mohamed both being lightning fast in their moves could be a major threat for the Park Club. CR number 8, Arun Kumar too will play a vital role in this encounter. Havies will depend heavily on their skipper Sandun Herath to breach the CR defense with his speedy runs down the wing. Their forwards are headed by flanker Sudarshan Muthuthanthri solid player both in attack as well in defense. Their scrum half Rahul De Silva will need to feed the three every given opportunity for the Park Club to work the line smoothly.

Havies will be not only expecting to win this traditional encounter but also expecting Kandy to lose out on their game to have a final showdown in Kandy on 28 February. Referee Priyantha Gunaratne will handle the whistle at this game.

Army who are holding on to number 6 position will have an easy outing against the last place CH at Race Course. Army playing inconsistent rugby will be able to move up one position after week 13. Their full back Gayan Salinda is the man looked forward to at this encounter. CH with number of freshers will find it tough to contain the Solders who are fit and mobile in their moves. This game will come under Sarath Madugalle.

Week 13 matches will commence today when the 5th placed Police lock horns with Air Force at the Police Park. Police having and uneven season got some rich talent under their belt. Radeesha Seneviratne, Musheen Faleel, Reza Mubarak and Sharo Fernando all outstanding players could come out on top. Air Force need to play for their full potential the entire 80 minutes to have some hope in this game, to move up the ladder. Aruna Rankothge will handle this game.