Will soldier put pressure in Kandy?

S M Jiffrey ABDEEN, Kandy Sports Corr

Unbeaten Kandy Sports Club should notch up their third win for the season when they take on Sri Lanka Army Sports Club in their Caltex League Rugby tournament match to be played at the Nittawela Rugby Stadium, Kandy, tomorrow.

On form Kandy Sports Club go out as firm favorites. They will also have the advantage of playing in their home grounds and will have the backing of the massive ground support by their rugby fans.

Sri Lanka skipper Sean Wijesinghe is still on the injured list and Kandy will not risk playing him in this match and allow him to recover for the more important games ahead. Next week they will be playing Police Sports Club down in Colombo.

Last week's match against CH and MC saw Kandy's winger Mohammed Jabbar in fine form scoring two scintillating tries and one of them being a blazing 65 metre run and in the process brushed past at least six CH defenders and one of them was just a couple of metres from the goal line but Jabbar swerved at the last moment to touch down by the corner flag to 'fox' his opponent.

Sajith Saranga too had a good game scoring two tries after pounding the opponents defence. Their three quarters comprising Mohammed Jabbar, Pradeep Liyanage, Amila Bandara, Gayan Weeraratne, Sanjeewa Jayasinghe and Dinesh Kumar too played well.

Sri Lanka Army on the other hand have not performed well this season losing their opening game to Sri Lanka Navy 5-19 and also to Havelocks Sports Club 13-36.

Fitness has always been the forte of the soldiers and if they could only couple it with skills and power play, then they could give the reigning champions a run for their money. This may the match in which the soldiers could rise up and a good performance against the strong Kandy Sports Club could boost up their morale. Up at Nittawela the soldiers have always played well and this year too should be no exception. They are one side who depend only on home grown stuff and they need to be encouraged.