Kandy have the edge over Navy

S. M. Jiffrey ABDEEN- Kandy Sports correspondent

The defending Caltex Rugby League champions Kandy Sports Club should continue winning and also they have a score to settle when they take on redoubtable Navy Sports Club in a key Caltex League Rugby tournament match to be played at the Nittawela Stadium in Kandy on June 28 (Sunday) at 4.30 p.m.

This is going to be an important game for the Kandy team who head the table of points with a lead of 3.50 points over the second placed CR and FC. But this lead is not sufficient to retain the league title for the tenth year in succession as a loss in the remaining two games could be disaster.

Kandy Sports Club have an old score to settle as they have lost to the Sailors in their last two clashes. Since 1992 Kandy has hardly ever lost two successive games to a club.

They will certainly will not like to make it three in a row. In 2009 they lost by a single point to Navy at Welisara in the return game.

Then this year in the first round game they lost to Navy also by a single point at Welisara. Thus Kandy will certainly avenge these two defeats in style.

Sri Lanka Navy on the other hand is one of the most improved sides in the club scene and at present they are third with 24.0 points and upto last week they were the only unbeaten side in the tournament.

Their performance would have much if not for the three drawn games during the season and they lost valuable points. If they are to have a go at the title they should win their last two games and at the same time Kandy SC and CR and FC should lose their last two games which is improbable.

This game should provide red hot rugby with both teams well balanced while Kandy should go out definite favourites on present form. Their full back Mahmmed Shriff is in bristling form and he is a player to watch with his sizzling runs and with his ability to execute drop goals.

Chamara Withanage, Gayan Weeraratne, Pradeep Liyanage and Sanjeewa Jayasinghe are in top form and they form a dreadful three quarter line who could torpedo the sailors.

Kandy SC (from) Kishore Jehan, Achala Perera/Anuranga Walpola, Eranda Swarnatillake, Senaka Bandara, Buddhi Talagampola, Sajith Saranga, Kasun Silva, Navinda Pullikuttiarachchi, Dilip Selvam, Sean Wijesinghe, Roshan Weeraratne and Fazil Marija (captain), Sanjeewa Jayasinghe, Pradeep Liyanage, Chamara Withanage, Sameera Silva, Mohammed Sheriff, Prasad Chathuranga, Dharshana Ettipola, Gayan Weeraratne, Radhika Hettiarachchi, Mohammed Jabbar, Shashika Jayawardena.

Navy SC (from) Ransiri Peiris, Suranga Swarnatillake, Piumal Manchanayake, Duminda Pullikuttiarachchi, Manjula Ruwantillake, Kalana Amerasinghe, Gayashan Wijesinghe, Samantha Lakshan, Sumedha Malawana, Tyronne Harrison, Dev Anand, Yoshitha Rajapaksa, Rohitha Rajapaksa, Suranga Pushpakumara, Dilip Methruwan, Chula Susantha, Nuwan Hettiarahcchi, Niranjan Wickremaratne, Kosala Tissera, Erande Weerakoddy, Sailendra Chadrasekera.

According to the General Secretary Lesley de Zoysa the tickets for the match will be available at Kandy Sports Club from Saturday morning and the spectators are advised to purchase them early.

If there is stringent security checks at the gates like last year, then there will be delay in gaining entrance at the gates.

The spectators are advised to come early to the grounds to avoid delay at the gates and to witness the full match.