Defending champions Kandy Sports Club which has reigned supreme this season have the tough task of overcoming a gallant Havelocks Sports Club outfit in their Dialog ‘A’ Division league rugby match at Havelock Park under floodlights at 6.30 pm today.
The lads from Kandy brushed aside Police (34-13) CR and FC (41-27) and CH and FC (31-13) in the last three games but will come up against a confident Havelocks Sports Club which came up with a sterling display last week to beat the formidable CR and FC by 30 points to 22.
Possession will play a key role in the final outcome. In the set scrums the experienced Kandy SC hooker Damith Dissanayake should get the better of his vis-a-vis Azmir Fajudeen while in the line outs the Kandy trio of Sayuru Anthony, Jason Dissanayake and Shehan Pathirana should hold sway.
A terrific tussle for supremacy can be expected in the loose. Kandy’s power-packed forwards especially Damith Dissanayake, Ganuka Dissanayake, Sayuru Anthony, Jason Dissanayake, Shehan Pathirana and Stangly built Buwanaka Udangamuwa have come up with a terrific display but will be given a torrid time by the park club ‘eight’ with Azmir Fajudeen, Charana Chamikara, Umesh Madushan and the third row of Shenal Deelaka, Shauket Lahir and Lasindu Ishan having stood out with their fiery loose play.
The lads from Kandy boast of easily the best back division in clubs. The experienced halves combination of Roshan Weeraratna and skipper Nigel Ratwatte have hit it off smoothly. Centres Tharinda Ratwatte and Lavanga Perera have given a dazzling display tearing apart the opponent defence with their probing runs while wingers Buddhima Piyaratne and Kavindu Perera have tested the opponents defence to the hilt with their daring runs down the flanks with full back Dansha Dayan having the knack of joining the line to form the overlap.
Havelocks will hope that their halves combination of experienced Mithun Hapugoda and Sandesh Jayawickrama will click today which would enable them to make the maximum use of the ‘good ball’ that comes their way as they too have some excellent players centres Dinushan Ariyapala, Randy Silva and wingers Keshan Kavinda and Asitha Gayashan who are capable of breaching the Kandy SC defence. Full back Prince Chamara has been a tower of strength with his safe collections and booming kicks to touch in addition to his excellent place kicking.
The probable teams
Havelocks – Charana Chamikara, Azmir Fajudeen, Faiz Abdullah, Umesh Madushan, Ganidu Lakshan, Shenal Deelaka, Shauket Lahir, Lasindu Ishan, Mithun Hapugoda (Captain) and Sandesh Jayawickrema, Kavinda Keshan, Dinushan Ariyapala, Randy Silva, Asitha Gayashan, Prince Chamara
Kandy SC – Lasitha Attanagoda, Damith Dissanayake, Ganuka Dissanayake, Sayuru Anthony, Mohamed Shabeer, Shehan Pathirana, Jason Dissanayake, Buwaneka Udangamuwa, Roshan Weeraratne and Nigal Ratwatte (Captain), Buddhima Piyaratne, Tharinda Ratwatte, Lavanga Perera, Kavindu Perera, Dansha Dayan
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