CR and FC host Kandy in crunch game today

Rib bruising no quarter given clash expected

by Lal Gunesekera

RUGBY: Today is 'D' Day for both CR & FC and Kandy Sports Club. They are the only two unbeaten sides in six first-round games of the Caltex 'A' Division League Rugby Championship. This evening's confrontation between these two sides at Longden Place could well decide the champions and a terrific tussle for supremacy could be expected.

Battle plans would have been drawn up weeks ahead for this vital clash and today they will be put into operation. However, much the coaches draw up plans, it's left to the players to demonstrate their willingness to put them into operation. Sure, both teams are unbeaten, but can they be satisfied with their performances up to date? It was pretty obvious that these two outfits will score heavily against weak opposition. They did it, but when they came up against tougher opponents, they had to fight all the way.

Kandy's victories have been against Old Zahirians (77-0), Army (66-3), Air Force (82-3), Police (29-13), Havelocks (24-10) and CH & FC (16-11), while CR's wins have been over Army (32-3), Air Force (23-10), Police (81-11), Old Zahirians (93-7), CH & FC (19-13) and Havelocks (28-6).

Last year (2006), Kandy came on top (17-12) at Longden Place in the second-round after winning the first-round game too (15-14). CR won (20-8) at Longden Place in the first-round in 2005, but Kandy won the "return" 23-15.

A victory today for Kandy could see them winning the League title for the seventh consecutive year and whether they could realise this dream is left to be seen. It will be a morale-booster for the second-round matches. Kandy has a terrific set of forwards and an equally good back-division, but a question mark yet remains over the fitness of fly-half Marija and Pradeep Liyanage. If they play, Kandy, will be at full strength, although centre Chamara Vithanage has been suspended.

CR last won the League title in 1998 nine years ago. That is far too long a period for an outfit like CR wait to regain it. But, they are determined to do so this year and will hope for a better display from their players than in the last two games against CH & FC and Havelocks. CR have the resources to come on top, but when it comes to a crunch game (like today against Kandy), it is left to be seen how well they will perform.

The humid conditions in the metropolis may not suit Kandy, and this could well tilt the scales in favour of the Red Shirts.

CR & FC: Danushka Boteju, Anuja Perera, Duminda pullikuttiarachchi, Anurudha Dharmatilleke (captain), Ashen Karthelis, Pavithra Fernando, Navin Wijetunga, D. Henry, Amjad Buksh or Zulki Hameed and Omar Sarifudeen, Dinesh Kumara, Mohamed Sheriff, Lasintha de Costa, Ravindra Wefodapola, Ashan de Costa.

KANDY: Jeewa Galamuwa (captain), Anuranga Walpola, Kishore Jehan, Senaka Bandara, Sumedha Jayasinghe, Sean Wijesinghe, Dushan Lewke, Dilip Selvam, Saliya Kumara and Fazil marija, Sanjeewa jayasinghe, Pradeep Liyanage, Mohamed Jabbar, Sameera Silva, Nalaka Weerakoddy.

The other game down for decision today is CH & FC vs Havelocks at Maitland Crescent.