CR - Kandy clash will decide the League title
 

By S.M. Jiffrey Abdeen - Kandy Sports Correspondent

The fate of the Caltex rugby League Championship will be decided when the defending champions Kandy Sports Club clash with the table leaders and the strongest challengers CR and FC in the rugby finale at the Nittawela Rugby stadium in Kandy tomorrow Sunday commencing at 5 p.m.

Kandy Sports Club have won this title for six years in running since 1999 and more often they had been clear winners having made certain of the trophy even before their final match.

But this year it had been different with the challengers making a strong claim for the league title from the beginning of the season head the table of points from the beginning of the league championship which they have managed to be in front upto the final week. If they lose the final match and the trophy it will not do justice to their consistency.

The red shirts head the current table of points with 51.55 points and the defending championship are just behind their with 47.60 points which means 3.55 points separate those two teams.

A win here for Kandy with more tries then CR & FC should help them to retain the league title for yet another year. If the red shirts win this match, they are certain to worst the league title from the Kandyans comfortably. Thus the league title depends on the outcome of this game.

Kandy has been not playing upto their true potential as some of their margin of victories has been not what it should have been especially against CH & FC, Navy (1st round), Army. They also suffered a serious reversal when they lost to CR & FC 8 - 20 in the first round clash at Longden Place.

Kandy's problems has been their forwards they have not playing well for many reasons. Retirement of Asoka Jayasena, departure of Niranjan Ranasinghe and the non-availability of Pradeep Basnayake and injuries to Buddhi Talagampola, Dilip Selven and Soan Wijesinghe punched deep holes to their pack and they lost vital possession in the line outs and their loose play suffered.

But things have improved with the return of lanky Pradeep Basnayake, and the fast breaking flankers Dilip Selvan and Sean Wijesinghe and this was reflected in their last week's massive 55 - 15 win over Navy at Welisara which compares favourably with their 23 - 13 win over the sailors at Nittawela last month.

Led by that winger Sanjeewa Jayasinghe, the Kandy SC team has the advantage of playing before their home supporters who should throng in their numbers. Their strong point is their three quarters which is virtual national 'line' in Sanjeewa Jayasinghe, Pradeep Liyanage, Chamara Withanege, Sajith Mallikarachchi and Radhika Hettiarachchi with the seasoned campaigner Nalaka Weerakoddy though meaning the last line of defence has been often seen joining the 'threes' to from the overlap.

Their halves combination too has been solid with Amjad Buksh and Fazil Marija. With the return of Pradeep Basnayake they should be ensured with a steady supply of possession from the line outs. With Buddhi Talagampola, Kapila Silva and Imran Bisthamin playing well, the Kandy team should chalk up a win here.

It is true that CR & FC led by Pavithra Fernando have been playing well this season and also have beaten Kandy SC in their first clash. But the return clash at Nittawela will be a different kettle of fish as the Kandy team will strengthened by the return of their two key forwards who could make the difference.

Like Kandy, the red shirts too have a fine halves combination in Zulki Hameed and Asanga Rodrigo and their line comprising Haron Kaluarachchi, Rajith Jayasundera, M.J. Mushtaq and Mohammed Sheriff need watching as they are fast and could pierce their opponents defence.

Full back Dhanushka Pushpakumara like his vis a vis Nalaka Weerakoddy could form the overlap if there is half a chance. The forwards comprising Boteju, Virak Prasantha Suranga Swarnatilleka, Anuranga Walpola, Seventha de Saram, Pavithra Fernando, Skipper Fernando, Ashan Kerthlis and Shemly Nawaz have been delivering the goods for the red shirts. They could upset Kandy in this department.

There being little to choose between the two teams, a titanic clash is expected and the fate of the trophy will be decided only when the referee sounds 'no side'.

CR & FC (from) Dhanushka Boteju, Viraj Prassantha, Suranga Swarnatillake, Anuradha Dharmatillake, Anuranga Walpola, Saventha de Saram, Pavithra Fernando, (Captain), Ashan Karthelis, Shamly Nawas, Zulki Hameed, and Asenga Rodrigo, Rajith Jayasundera, Haren Kalurarachchi, M.J. Mushtaq, Mohammed Sheriffdeen, Dhanushke Pushpakumara.

Kandy SC (from) Saranath Hettiarachchi, Malith Silva/ Ansar Buksh, Jeewa Galgamuwe, Kapila Silva, Pradeep Basnayake, Buddhi Talagampola/Sumedha Jayasinghe, Dilip Selven, Soan Wijesinghe, Imran Bisthamin, Amjad Buksh and Fazil Marija, Sanjeewa Jayasinghe, Pradeep Liyanage, Sajith Mallikarachchi, Chamara Withanage, Radhika Hettiarachchi, Nalaka Weerakoddy, Lasantha Mallikarachchi, Nilufer Ibrahim, Malith Hettiarachchi, Duminda Pullukuttiarachchi, Sameera Silva, Prasad Chathuranga, Mohammed Rizvi.