Kandy SC out to retain 'A' Division League Title

S.M. Jiffrey Abdeen Kandy Sports Correspondent

Defending triple champions Kandy Sports Club who have made the biggest impact on the local rugby scene for the last 17 years will aim to retain all the trophies which they won last year this season.

Kandy Sports with a history of over 135 years has been flagship of outstation rugby and they alone have been keeping the outstation rugby flag flying and not just flying but with flying with colours giving the Colombo based clubs, the opposition that they just cannot match and this has resulted in the hill capital club grabbing a very large percentage of the trophies which are on offer and they had participated.

Despite being a very old club once which were dominated by the expatriate planters from the tea plantations around Kandy, were not a dominant force till 1992 when they won their first title the Clifford Cup. They had also entered the Clifford Cup finals on three previous occasions but had always ended up the second best.

Kandy has dominated the local rugby scene to such an extent since 1992 that had they have won the Clifford Cup the most number of times and the league title the most number of times including eight in a row from 2001 to 2008 and had been crowned the triple champions in 1995, 1997, 1999, 2002, 2003, 2005, 2007 and 2008 according to the club stalwart Iswan Omar. Thus they had dominated both the shorter version and the conventional game.

According to club officials Kandy had not lost a match at Nittawela since 1998 and they last lost in Colombo to CR and FC in 2005 at Longden Place. But they made a big mistake in the year 2007 when they fielded a second string side minus Their stars and lost to CH&FC 55 - 9 in the President's Cup knock out tournament.

They called this their Development side and one wonders what made them field a second string side in a top tournament and lose badly and tarnish their excellent record. This is most intriguing and later they realised their folly and regretted what took place.

Leading Kandy's star studded side is former Antinion and Sri Lanka Sevens Skipper Pradeep Liyanage, a tear away centre three quarter who could punch holes against any defence with his tearing runs and is a much feared player who is often kept marked by the opponents.

In his absence the team will be skippered by winger Sameera Silva who will be playing for the club for the 14th year having joined the club straight from school and has been performing yeoman service since then with his bone jarring tackles and piercing runs on the wings.

Pradeep Liyanage will have a large number of national ruggerites some of them being past national captains to help him in his quest to retain the three trophies which they won last year.

Propping for Kandy will be Kishore Jehan and Eranga Swarnatillake with Kasun Yasaisuru who crossed over from havelocks also being available.

National player Anuranga Walpola will be the regular hooker with young Arvinda Udangamuwa from Kingswood College as stand by. The tussle for the two locks berths will be between Senaka Bandara, Zafeer Jhan and Buddhi Talagampola - all three being national and fourth being Old Antinion Shashika Jayawardena.

Last year's skipper Sean Wijesinhe and old Trinitian Dilip Selvam will be the choice as flankers with Navinda Pullukuttiarachchi, and Gayan Ratnage as stand bys. In case of emergency the Manager of the team former CR and FC and Sri Lanka forward Kapila Silva is also available as was seen in the match against Sri Lanka Air Force.

Strongly built Sajith Saranga will occupy the No. 8 position with Navinda Pullukuttiarachchi as stand by.

Operating from the base of the scrum will be Saliya Kumara a brilliant player in this position often carrying away the player of the finals award. He is one player who could change the complexion of the game at any stage with his extra ordinary brilliance. Prasad Chathuranga and Krishantha Rajapakse too could play in this position.

Another fine player and one of the best fly halves produced by Kandy SC and present Sri Lanka Sevens skipper Fazil Marija will occupy the pivotal position as stand off. His judicious kicking and positional play should play a major role for kandy. Prasad Chathuranga could also play in this position.

The two wings will be occupied by another brilliant player Sanjeewa Jayasinghe and Sameera Silva both known for their strong runs to upset the opponents defence. Malinga Godigamuwa, Dhanushka Pushpakumara and Kusal Rankothge are also eying for a berth here.

The two centres will be skipper Pradeep Liyanage and Gayan Weeraratne with Mohammed Sheriff who has crossed over from CR and FC also available.

Manning the last line of defence will be strongly built Radhika Hettiarachchi with Mohammed Sheriff as stand by.