A legal snag prevents the trophy being awarded:

Kandy SC favoured to win Caltex League rugby title

by S.M. Jiffrey ABDEEN – Kandy Sports Corr.

RUGBY: The glamour boys of the local rugby scene and defending champions Kandy Sports Club will go out favourites to clinch the Caltex League Championship for the 11th successive year when they take on rejuvenated Havelocks Sports Club at Nittawela Rugby Stadium, Kandy today (Sunday) – August 14th with the kick off scheduled for 4.30 p.m.

Kandy Sports Club head the present league table of points with 40 points and in second place is Navy Sports Club with 36 points and Havelocks are lying third with 35 points. According to the tournament rules, six points is awarded for a win and a bonus one point if four or more tries are scored. Considering this Kandy Sports Club are best poised to win the title and all what they require is a simple win over Havelocks in their final match which will give them an unassailable lead of 46 points and no other club is in a position to amass such a number of points as the league championship will come to a close with this match.

The challengers Havelocks Sports Club have only an outside chance of winning the title as they will not only have to defeat Kandy but also score more than four tries and at the same time restrict the Kandy team to less than four tries. This is not all, Navy Sports Club who will be meeting CR & FC in their final outing today will have to lose. This is highly improbable as the Kandy team will be playing in their home terrain and before their home supporters. Kandy has not lost at Nittawela for the last 8 years or more and their defeats have been outside their Kandyan fortress in the hands of Navy, CR & FC and once by Army.

The league championship would have been decided last week itself after Kandy Sports Clubs rousing 36 - 8 win over the strong CR & FC as Kandy would have climbed to the top sport with 46 points.

But the six points gained by them in their first round match against CH & FC was with-held by the Sri Lanka Rugby Football Union following an enjoining order by the courts. Kandy Sports Club beat CH & FC 44 - 19 in this match played at Nittawela.

Rugby Chairman of Kandy Sports Club Lasantha Wijesuriya told the Sunday Observer that they had got an order from the courts to prevent the awarding of the league championship trophy by the SLRFU until such the legal issues over this matter is finalised.

Kandy Sports Club are in fine form at present especially with the inclusion of several youngsters into the side especially after many of their seniors could not don their jersey either due to injuries or other reasons. There had been a few cross overs too. But their Kandyan grit will not allow themselves to be put down that easily.

They will be led by second rower Senaka Bandara who is a stand in skipper. Originally Saliya Kumara was appointed as skipper and he had to step down following a ban clamped on him and fellow player Keith Gurusinghe by the IRB. Acting skipper flanker Buddhi Talagampola sustained a serious leg injury in the first round match played at Longden Place two months ago and will be out of action for the rest of the season.

Thus the mantle of leadership fell on the quiet and unassuming but defatigable Senaka Bandara - line out specialist and a hard player on the loose.

One man the Havies should keep in check will be stand off Fazil Marija who is a good reader of the game and could change its complexion at any stage with his judiceas kicking and searing runs which has left his opponents stupefied, not knowing what has happened. No. 8 Sajith Bandara is also in topping form and could breach any defence with bludgeoning power play.

If Kandy’s three quarters comprising Mohammed Jabbar, Pradeep Liyanage, Gayan Weeraratne and Dinesh Kumar could get into their flight than they could play havocs on Havelocks defence.

Havelocks Sports Club led by former Trinity College and Kandy sports Club ruggerite Kavinda Jayasena are a will knit side and their performance this season has been very impressive with the inclusion of two Tongans whose excellent play especially in the loose will have to kept under check by Kandy if they are to stop Havelocks Sports Club from scoring a surprise win.

The team is further strengthened by the inclusion of nippy scrum half Amjad Baksh, centre Chamara Withanage and Winger Anuradha Willawara – all former Kandy SC ruggerites.

If the Havelocks click as a team, then could provide the shock of the season as they have not beaten Kandy Sports Club for over ten years and Kandy has not lost at Nittawala for the past 8 years. Place kicking is going to be of vital importance for both teams and they cannot afford to miss those panel ties or try conversion.

Kandy Sports Club scenting victory and retaining of the League title for the 11th successive year have or already organised celebrations. There is going to be a giant screen at Nittawela by courtesy of Etisalat and there will be also fire works for two hours after the match even the fate of the cup may not be knowon this day.

KANDY SPORTS CLUB: (from) Kishore Jehan, Achala Perera, Kasun Yasaisuru, Senaka Bandara (Captain), Dinesh Sanjeewa, Kasun de Silva, Asitha Ratnayake, Sajith Saranga, Roshan Weeraratne and Fazil Marija, Mohammed Jabbar, Pradeep Liyanage, Gayan Weeraratne, Dinesh Kumar, Sanjeewa Jayasinghe, Tharindu Chanaka, Prasad Chathurange, Damith Dissanayake, Sanka Rajaguru, Amila Bandara, Oshan Perera, Lavanga Perera, Liston Flatney, Shahika Jayawardena, Heshan de Silva, (Coach Yohan Taylor, Rugby Chairman Lasantha Wijesuriya)

HAVELOCKS SPORTS CLUB: (From) Desmand Wilson, Dushmantha Priyadharshana, Kavinda Jayasena (Captain), Duminda de Silva, Dilran Warnakulasuriya, Asela Dissanayake, Agasta Sae, Amjad Buksh, Wasim Thajudeen, Paula Talaka, Pushpakumara Perera, Chamara Withanage, Anuruddha Wilwara, Sajitah Bandara, Sayuru Anthony, Dulanjala Wijesinghe, Shehan Dimosh, Chula Susantha, Uthpala Seneviratne, Mohammed Isadeen (Coach Thusith Peiris).