Kandy outclass CH&FC to take top spot

Monday, 5 January 2015 00:00 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

By Shamseer Jaleel Kandy Sport Club took up their speed to top gear last week when they went past a helpless CH&FC with a 11-try spree in Colombo in order to take the top spot in the ongoing interclub league rugby tournament which came to a half-time break for the first round. The second round will start in one week’s time.

Great start for Tongan Koto Pongi in local club rugby Havies ended the first round with five wins when they outclassed Hambantota Sharks 43/10 in Colombo. Havies have such a talented side, only second to Kandy. They have players of the calibre of Mithun Hapugoda, Shehan Pathirana, Mohamed Sheriff, Dhanushka Ranjan, Dulaj Perera and Sandun Herath. They dropped three games down to Kandy, Navy and CR&FC by very close margins. Come the second round, the Park Club too will be in contention for the League in their centenary year. Kandy after a lapse of two years are back with the contention of the league under their watchful coach Johan Taylor. Their two overseas players Oscar Ouma (Kenya) and Chris Colette (South Africa) are in top form and they were blessed with one more Tongan, Koto Pongi, a team player who will be very vital for their second games. The only team from Kandy is nothing short of talent where six leading schools from the local area create some top quality players each year. They in their last game rested nearly four of their national players. Neither Fazil Marija, Nigel Ratwatte, Gayan Weeraratne nor Anurudha Wilwara took part in the game against CH&FC. They have ample talent with the current coordination within the team they are the hot favoured team to take way the League. Navy on the other hand ended their first round games one week ago on the number two slot, dropping down only to Kandy. They too have such a talented lot with some outstanding players in their rank. They will be a major threat for Kandy in the second round. CR&FC edged out Sri Lanka Air Force to end their round with a win. The Red Shirts are nothing short on talent and experience but they did not click as one unit. They are coached by one of the best in the country, Imthisam Marrikar. The soldiers ended the first round with a 41/20 win over the Police SC. The soldiers too played well within themselves to end the first round with a creditable performance. They are the only side to topple the top Kandy outfit in their second outing. The Sri Lanka Rugby Football Union did well to bring some overseas referees for their first round encounters which resulted in less complaints from the clubs which invest nearly 25 million a season which runs into league and knock out encounters which runs in to nearly five months.