The eagerly awaited second round confrontation between defending champions Kandy Sports Club and the formidable CR and FC in the Dialog ‘A’ Division League rugby match at Longden Place today should turn out to be a thriller.
A mammoth crowd is expected at kick-off time 4:00 pm to witness this grand game in the 2016/17 League Rugby tournament.
The match should turn out to be a battle between CR's power-packed forwards and Kandy's speedy three quarters. CR's forwards especially seasoned campaigner Supun Warnakulasooriya, skipper Shane Sammandapperuma, Shawqat Lahir, Shemal Weerasekara, Ishan Noor and Omalka Gunaratne have given a terrific display throughout the season in the loose and should maintain their supremacy.
In the set scrums CR's hooker Warnakulasooriya will have the edge against Kandy's Damith Dissanayake while the line outs should be shared between Kandy's Gayan Ratnayake and Shehan Pathirana and the CR duo of Shemal Weerasekara and Noor.
Kandy's forte has been their speedy three quarters. The halves combination of skipper Roshan Weeraratna and Nigel Ratwatte have to hit it off smoothly as they are playing together their second match for the season. Centres Danushka Ranjan and strongly built Gayan Weeraratne are hard runners who should punch holes in the CR defence with full back Thilina Wijesinghe joining the line to form the overlap.
But the biggest threat to CR will be posed by winger Richard Dharmapala with his power-packed runs down the flank.
The Red shirts have to make the maximum use of the ‘good ball’ that comes their way through their halves combination of brothers Kavindhu and Ashan and they must not delay their passes for their two hard running centres in strongly built Tarinda Ratwatte and Bhanuka Nanayakkara to hit the gaps without being ‘nailed’ by their opposite numbers.
Also they should come up with a much better display as they have two strong runners in winger Sashan Mohamad while on the open side wing they will have the services of diminutive Kavindhu Perera who has impressed with his sizzling runs in addition to an attacking full back Prince Chamara.
Kandy SC beat CR by 50 points to 29 in the first round game at Nittawela after the scores were deadlock at half time 20-all. Another thriller is on the cards today.
Teams:
CR&FC (Probable XV): Shane Sammandapperuma (Captain), Supun Warnakulasooriya, Kokila Sammandapperuma, Charana Chamikara, Gayan Jayamanna, Ishan Noor, Shemal Weerasekara, Omalka Gunaratne, Kavindu de Costa and Ashan de Costa, Sashan Mohamad, Bhanuka Nanayakkara, Tarinda Ratwatte, Kavindu Perera, Prince Chamara, Head Coach: Ben McDougall (Scotland).
Kandy SC (Probable XV): Piyumal Manchanayaka, Damith Dissanayake, Kishore Jehan, Shehan Dimitri, Gayan Ratnayake, Shehan Pathirana, Soyuru Anthony, Buwaneka Udangamuwa, Roshan Weeraratne (Captain) and Nigel Ratwatte, Richard Dharmapala, Gayan Weeraratne, Danushka Ranjan, Vishvamithra Jayasinghe, Thilina Wijesinghe. Head Coach: Shaun Wijesinghe
Referee: Dinka Peiris
Navy go out favourites against Airmen
The high-riding Navy Sports Club will go out favourites against Air Force Sports Club in their Dialog ‘A’ Division League return game at Welisara today commencing at 4.00 pm.
The Navy SC played a superb game against Police SC in their last game at Welisara and will have to come up with a similar performance if they hope to overcome the Airmen with a bonus point victory.
The forte of the Navy side has been their power-packed forwards and they should come up with another blockbuster display with skipper Roshan Ranasinghe, Sathya Ranatunga, Supun Peiris, Nivanka Prasad, Sajith Saranga along with ever green flanker Danushka “Gertha” Perera likely to give off their best.
Meanwhile the unpredictable Air Force lads who nearly turned tables on CR & FC last week at Ratmalana and beat the defending champions Kandy SC in the first round game will try their level best to create a shocking victory against the formidable Sailors.
Teams
Navy SC (Probable XV): Roshan Ranasinghe (Captain) or Stefan Greogary, Dulanjana Wijesinghe, Kasun de Silva, Supun Peiris, Sathya Ranatunga, Sajith Saranga ,Danushka “Gertha “ Perera, Nivanka Prasad, Richie Dharmapala and Chanaka Chandimal, Buddhima Piyaratne, Lee Keegal, Lahiru Herath, Saliya Handapangoda, Thilina Weerasinghe, Head Coach: Mothilal Jayathilake, Asst.Coach: Dev Anandh
Air Force (Probable XV): Pushpakumara Samarahewa, Lahiru Udayanga, Prasad Medagedara, Thilina Bandara, Ranil Medagedara, Dimithri Patabandi, Dinesh Weeraratne, Saraka Waralla, Ashok Wijekumar and Gayantha Iddamalgoda (Captain), Ranindu Padmasanka, Sooriya Crishan, Charith Seneviratne, Ishara Madushan, Nuwan Perera, Head Coach: Leonard de Zilwa.
Referee: Priyantha Gunaratne.
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