Kandy SC poised for third win

by S.M. Jiffrey Abdeen, Kandy Sports Corr.

RUGBY: The defending Caltex League champions Kandy Sports Club should have no difficulty in notching up their third successive win when they take on Sri Lanka Air Force in their Segment A of the Caltex Rugby League championship match to be played this Sunday - June 3 at the Nittawela Rugby Stadium in Kandy at 4.30 p.m.

The star studded Kandy Sports Club led by that durable prop forward Jeewa Galgamuwa have moved down all opposites so far this season. Their line has been still not crossed with just a solitary penalty being scored against them. They beat Old Zairians 77 - O and the Army 66 - 3. They have so far scored 23 tries displaying their invincibility.

But the Airmen are no push overs as they displayed against CR & FC last week. In the last match former skipper and Sri Lanka winger Sanjeewa Jayasinghe displayed that given the opportunity, that he has a clean pair of heels to slice through opponents defence. He ended up with three tries and he did likewise against the Old Zairians too. He is one man to watch along with the other two hard runners winger Sameers Silva, and the two insides Pradeep Liyanage and Chamara Withanage.

Former Kandy and Sri Lanka skipper Sajith Mallikarachchi is likely to make his first appearance this season as a centre and his presence will add more strength to Kandy's defence.

Kandy's forwards have been playing well and this has helped their back division with a feast of tries. Skipper Jeewa Galgamuwa, Anuradha Walpola, Kishore Johan in the front row along with No. 8 Dushantha Lewke have been displaying good from.

No. 8 Dushantha Lewke in particular has proved that he has stamina and the strength to last the full game showing no tiredness at all. This is a bonus to the Kandy team and in the last game he scored two brilliant tries and he score two tries in the first match too. It is not only the scoring but is overall play has helped Kandy to settled down early. He is one play to watch.

Senaka Bandara and Sumedha Jayasinghe and along with Imran Bisthamin have done well in the line outs and it will be interesting to see how they fare against Prassanna Soysa, Kodagoda and Suren Nilanga of the Air Force who could tower above the Kandy trio.

It is Kandy's back division which has been their forte with hard runners like Sanjeewa Jayasinghe, Sameera Silva, Pradeep Liyanage, Chamara Withanage and with the return of centre Sajith Mallikkarachchi. They have the potential to cut through any defence.

The halves combination of Prasad Chathuranga and Fazil Marija have been pairing off well. Nalaka Weerakoddy has been manning the last line of defence well and his booming kicks to touch has relived pressure and helped his side to gain territorial advantage.