CR has tough assignment against Kandy today

by Hafiz Marikar

Kandy Sports Club, the table leaders in the 'A' division rugby competition will be looking to build momentum when they take on CR and FC today Sunday at Nittawela grounds at 3.45 pm.

Last weekend, Kandy Sports Club with the ball looked dangerous, and showed great character to keep faith and confidence in attacking philosophy, every one at Nittawela really enjoyed watching the players play for each other. They picked themselves up time and time again, and encouraged each other to keep on working for our collective cause. Kandy beat police 46-19 and it

was fantastic to see, as was the ability to get over the line and score tries. What they should do is force the Red Shirts to make errors then they will have a good chance.

Meanwhile, CR and FC who had a free week, are all-out to give a good display and Coach Imthi Marikar and his players have suffered on the training paddock after the disappointing defeat to Policemen, so today how are they going address the quality Kandy Sports Club side?

There are ways you can play good rugby. Coach Imthi would have done his best to make things smart. The 'Red Shirts' failed to get the needs against Police and will need to be better against the strong Kandy Sports Club fifteen. It might also be an idea to pass the ball to the likes that hardly saw the ball in the last game.

CR and FC side have been on fire after their defeat in the last outing and today they will have to face a very difficult game against the Kandy Sports Club. The CR and FC will definitely be 'underdogs' in the match; they do have some momentum on their side. Coming off their last, in which they played well. Today even with the best side, no reason to think they can't beat Kandy Sports Club at Nittawela.

It's a statement match plain and simple and we'll know a lot more about this Kandy side after this weekend. Imthi Marikar must have made some changes for today's starting line up after the last defeat, with all due respect to CR and FC , their players are going to have a different level than they have seen before. They are going to get up to speed quickly. Kandy will be all out to punish any error, so it will be important for them to play a clean game.

Kandy favouredto win

Kandy Sports Club side who defeated Police SC 46-19 giving the cops a run for their money last week, should continue their good work. So today for Kandy Sports Club there is an opportunity to prepare well and execute well, so mentally they will have to be resilient, it will be fascinating to see how they deal with it.

Kandy side, the big focus is once again going to be the scrum. They have plenty of experience and talent in their forwards so it will be up to them, to show that they are better than last week's showing. Kandy's third row will add strength to the scrum. Their third row is very physical., in the last game their front row had okay showings, but will need to take a step up in today's game, specially should hope that their line out-does better than its, clean ball performance should come in.

Kandy Sports Club's skipper Sean Wijesinghe should lead the side from front.

Scrumhalf Roshan Weeraratne, after a poor start had a great game last week. He'll be well backed by Fazil Marija at fly-half. The centres and backs saw a lot of action last week . One of the best most aspects of Kandy is the play of their halfbacks. Fly-half Fazil Marja has been a thorn in the side; they have had a reputation for having discipline issues in their back division play. They will be measured not only by wins but by how they show improvement in the match.

For this match, Kandy must play better in the scrum, full stop. They must also learn to find ways to score without their weapons in the back. If they can do both of those things, then it will be a decent outing. On an individual level several players will have to do their best, they have only one more game in the first round.

Kandy have looked to do much more with the ball of late, beginning with the way they have moved the ball around the breakdown to get over the gain line - a solid style they have employed - this will again be key. Kandy fans will hope a strong performance today will see them heading into the second round feeling more optimistic than they have in a very long time.

Ones to watch (for Kandy SC): A side which has powerful ball carriers, up front, the Kandy side has the advantage when it comes to skill, size and big-game experience - if they play according to the game plan. The players to be watched in Kandy are Fazil Marija, Lavanaga Perera, Nigel Rattwatte, Chris Cloete, Roshan Weerarathne, Gyan Ratnayake and Sashika Jayawardene.

Tough job for CR

For CR and FC - it is going to be a hard evening's work. They might have to spend more time defending, and they must be solid at both forward and back division play. CR and FC have plenty of firepower of their own and should cover in all key departments, with the experience in the halves to guide them to play good rugger. So, much is expected from Dilan de Zoysa, Ashan de Costa, Shanaka Kumar, Nipuna Devinda, Arun Kumar, shane Sammandaperuma and Sithum Periers.

Head-to-head: The opening 15 minutes promises to include a firework or two. The Kandy sides have plenty of firepower of their own. And that looks to cover in all key departments, with the experience in the halves to guide them home safely

Kandy Sports Club: (team will be picked from): Diminthri Wijesinghe, Piyumal Manchanayake, Kishore Jehan, Damith Dissanayake, Uchitha Jayasuriya, Gyan Ratnayake, Sashika Jayawardene, Dinuk Perera, Sean Wijesinghe (Capt), Asitha Ratnayake, Tharindu Chathuranga, Chris Cloete, Roshan Weerarthne, Saliya Kuamra, Fazil Marija, Arshad Jamaldeen, Damian Ratwatte, Gyan Weerartne, Pradeep Liyanage, Buveneka Udangamuwa, Anuruddha Wilwara, Ishan Perera, Lavanga Perera, Drashana Ettipola, Nigel Ratwatte, Quntion Crocker (Johan Taylor Coach).

CR AND FC - Nipuna Devinda, Arun Kumar, shane Sammandaperuma, Sithum Periers, Dilanka Perera, Rajitha Abeyakoon, Puppy Farrel, Sasanka Ariyaratne, Dilan de Zoysa, Ashan de Costa, Shanaka Kumar, Kanchana Ramanayake, Robbie Malneek, Anuradha Heartrh, Rochana Hettiarchchi (Imthi Mariakr Coach).

Referee: - Garratt Williamsons - New Zealand