CR - Kandy match should be a thriller

THE eagerly awaited confrontation between the only two unbeaten teams in the Caltex 'A' Division League defending champions Kandy Sports Club and the formidable CR and FC will take place at Longden Place at 4.40 p.m. today.

Both teams are packed with national players and a terrific tussle for supremacy can be expected today. This game should turn out to be a battle between CR and FC's power-packed forwards and Kandy's speedy three quarters.

Possession will play a vital role in the final outcome. In the set scrums Sri Lanka hooker Viraj Prasantha should get the better of his vis-a-vis Mohamed Buksh while in the line outs the Kandy trio of Thalagampola, Bisthamin and Kapila Silva should hold sway.

CR skipper Pavithra Fernando has been a source of inspiration to his team-mates with his fiery loose play. With Boteju, Prasantha, Dharmatilleke Walpola and de Saram also giving a terrific display in the loose the CR 'eight' should dominate in the loose.

In Hamid and Rodrigo CR has a fine halves combination while centre Rajith Jayasundara has been a hard runner who could penetrate the Kandy defence while on the wings they will have the services of the speedy M. J. Mushtaq in addition to an attacking full back Danushka Pushpakumara.

Kandy Sports Club boast of virtually the Sri Lanka three quarter line. In Amjad Buksh and Fazil Marija they have a superb halves combination who have performed creditably for Sri Lanka.

Centres Sajith Mallikarachchi and Pradeep Liyanage came off with flying colours in the World Cup qualifiers against Thailand and Singapore but the biggest threat for CR will be posed by wingers Sanjeeva Jayasinghe and Radhika Hettiarachchi with their powerful runs down the flanks with full back Nalaka Weerakkody also joining the line to form the overlap.

Kandy SC also have a distinct advantage over CR as they have a superb place kicker in Nalaka Weerakkody while the Red Shirts do not have the services of a reliable place kicker.

The teams:

CR and FC - Suranga Swarnatilleke, Viraj Prasantha, Danushka Boteju, Anuradha Dharmatilleke, Savantha de Saram, Ashan Karthelis, Pavithra Fernando (Captain), Anuranga Walpola, Zulki Hamid and Asanga Rodrigo, M. J. Mushtaq, Rajith Jayasundera, Harin Kaluarachchi, Ravindra Wekadapola, Danushka Pushpakumara.

Kandy SC - Jeewa Galgamuwa, Mohamed Buksh, Saranath Hettiarachchi, Kapila Silva, Buddhika Thalagampola, Sean Wijesinghe, Dilip Selvam, Imran Bisthamin, Amjad Buksh and Fazil Marija, Sanjeeva Jayasinghe (Captain), Pradeep Liyanage, Sajith Mallikarachchi, Radhika Hettiarachchi, Nalaka Weerakkody.

Referee: Dilroy Fernando (R.S.)