Havelocks face tough task against Kandy SC today

By Hafiz Marikar

Havelock Sports Club face their stiffest hurdle, when they confront arch rivals Kandy Sports Club in the second round league game, although, Kandy Sports Club are firm favorites to win, Havelock Sports Club have the potential to rise to the occasion in this game.

So, the clash at Nittawela this evening is certain to draw a large crowd of fans, in the expectation of a grim yet attractive battle for supremacy. The Nittawela and Park Club, play fast open rugger, with forwards and back joining the movements, is their beauty of presentation in the field. Kandy Sports Club who have given many a good display this season, and if they settle down early should make a strong bid for the trophy, any where there is little to chose between the two leading teams. In this game today, the Nittawela club will go forth with real confidence and knowledge and a another advantage that they possess is that the climatic conditions are slightly in their favour.

Reports reaching here say Havelock Sports Club are sparing no pain or effort to win this one. They have been through a kind of training that will not be out of place.

I say, that Kandy Sports Club are back in form and Roshan Weerarathne, skipper of the team which has enjoyed good rugby in the last two decades, knows very well that he will not lead the team in a game packed with more pressure than this forthcoming confrontation. There is no room for anyone to stop the Nittawela boys from winning at their residence.

For Kandy Sports club ruggerites the game has been a kind of religion and needless to say the players over here in the hills, enjoy every movement of the game. Kandy Sprats Club's rugby Chairman Lasanatha Wijesuriya a former captain, knows the game well, says showing tremendous faith in this team's capabilities, he is quiet confident that his side can match up to any thing the Havelock Sports Club can offer.

When the final count is taken neither the Kandy or Havies should have many points scored against them. The teams will be picked from:

Kandy SC - Laitha Athanagoda, Kishore Jehan, Damith Dissanayake, Lasitha Maduranga, Dinesh Sanjeewa, Gyan Ratnayake, Asitha Ratnayake, Keith Gururusinghe, Sean Wijasinghe, Piumal Manchanayake, Randika de Alwis, Andrew Porter, Sailosi Vaetangitau, Roshan Weerartthne (Capt), Fazil Marija, Gayan Weerarhne, David Halaisoua, Anurudda wilwara, Richard Darmapala, Lavanga Perera, Saliya Kumara, Inoke Finau, Damien Ratwatte, Oshan Perera, Heshan Silva, Dharshana Etipola.

Havelock SC - Henry Terrance, Anuranga Walpola, Dushamntha Priyadarshana, Shenal Dias, Hasitha Perera, Sudarshan Muthuthanthri (Capt), Shehan Pathirana, Paul Kaho, Mithun Hapugoda, Niroshan Fernando, Villaami Hakalo, danushka Ranjan, Sandun Herath, Chamra Dabare, Mohamed Sheriff.

Referee - Nizam Jamaldeen