Kandy SC play host to CH and FC on Sunday

S.M. Jiffrey Abdeen Kandy Sports Correspondent

The defending Caltex League champions Kandy Sports Club should maintain their winning streak when they take on CH & FC in their first round match of the Caltex League Rugby Tournament scheduled to be played at the Nittawela Rugby Stadium in Kandy on June 14 (Sunday).

Kandy SC who were plagued with injuries in their matches against Air Force and Army were almost at full strength in their last match against Police down in Colombo and they were able to post a 67-16 win which helped them to climb on to the top of the table of points for the first time. But they have an equal number of points as the second placed CR and FC and it is the better number of tries scored which has helped Kandy to head the table.

Kandy is certain to win their match against CH & FC unless there is an upset and Kandy should consolidate by piling on the points.

With the return of mercurial scrum half, Kandy should be at full strength except there is a little doubt about centre Gayan Weeraratne, hooker Anuranga Walpola who are both nursing injuries. In case Walpola does not play, his place will be taken by old Kingswoodian Arvinda Udangamuwa who has displayed good form in the matches played todate.

CH & FC who started off well this season by heading the table of points in the first two weeks have now slipped down to the fourth place following unexpected defeats in the hands of Navy and Army who Kandy SC defeated by good margins. They have a big task in their hands to defeat Kandy in Nittawela and this is unlikely event.

Kandy has been experiencing afternoon showers and the conditions at Nittawela should favour the home team and a massive win for Kandy is a safe bet.

Kandy SC (from:) Kishore Jehan, Eranga Swarnatillake, Anuranga Walpola /Arvinda Udangamuwa, Senaka Bandara, Zafeer Jhan, Sean Wijesinghe, Dilip Selvam/Navinda Pullukuttiarachchi, Sajith Saranga, (No. 8) Saliya Kumara and Fazil Marija, Sanjeewa Jayasinghe, Pradeep Liyanage (captain), Mohammed Sheriff, Sameera Silva, Radhika Hettiarachchi, Buddhi Talagampola, Prasad Chathuranga. Malinga Godigamuwa, Kasun Yasisuru, Dhanushka Pushpakumara, Kusal Rankothge, and Shashika Jayawardena.

CH & FC (from) Jayantha Ratnaweera, Achala Perera (captain), Sathya Ranatunga, Dinesh Sanjeewa, Wasamba Herath, Shan Fernando, Bilal Hassen, Dilanka Wijesekera, Tuan Shamrock, and Sajith Mallikarachchi, Lakala Perera, Shane Dissanayake, Rushika Fernando, Ajit Upawansa, Milinda Jayasinghe.