Kandy S.C. will find it tough going against Navy

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

The defending League Champions Kandy Sports Club will find it tough to maintain their ten-year old unbeaten record at Nittawela when they take on a strong and determined Navy Sports Club in their second clash of the Dialog Rugby League Rugby tournament match to be played at the Nittawela Rugby Stadium, Kandy, today Sunday August 12 with the kick off at 4.30 p.m.

A huge turn-out of crowds is expected for this all important clash which will put the winners in line for championship honours provided they win their remaining matches. Thus a win here is going to be crucial for both teams. A foreign referee is expected to blow at this match according to the Senior Vice President of Kandy Sports Club Leslie Zoysa who

also said that since a full house is expected, the sale of tickets commended yesterday and will continue to be sold from 8.30 a.m. onwards today.

According to records Kandy Sports Club has not lost to the sailors at Nittawela for over 20 years and they will not like to lose unbeaten run this year and therefore they will strive hard for a win here which will have an impact on their championship stake for a record 12 consecutive years.

Kandy Sports led by full back Saliya Kumara have a good team but they have been not playing to their true potential this season, may injuries to key players could have had a telling effect on their performance. This is going to be their day of reckoning as they have a prestige to preserve for the fourth year in a row. In the earlier the sailors have winning by wafer thin margins but this year their 11 point win has been their biggest.

But the Kandyans have always hit back in their home terrain at Nittawela by winning the clash. It is left to be seen whether this four yedar old history will repeat itself or the sailors are going to set a new record for themselves in this prestigious clash.

Navy Sports Club led by forward and Sri Lanka skipper Yositha Rajapaksa are set of gritty fighters who are determined to fight to the end. Fitness and power play has been their forte adding to their scoring potential is their drop goal specialist and fly half Dev Anand who could change the completion of the game with his well aimed drop kicks in a closely contested game.

He executed two of them against Kandy last week which brought six valuable points. Kandy should keep a close tab on him and keeping an extra man to restrict him will mean an another area vulnerable. This is the dilemma which will troubling Kandy.

Navy should go into this match with their morals high having beaten Kandy last week unless the home team upset them with their finesse.

Navy's record this season is beat CH & FC 29-13, beat Police SC 31-17, beat Army 19-14, beat Air Force 55-15, beat Upcountry Lions 35-8, beat CR & FC 58-17, beat Kandy SC 25-14, lost to Havelocks SC 20-22.

Navy are presently second in the table of points with 41 points and Kandy third with 39 points. A close and an excruciating battle is in store for the rugby fans today.