Kandy must push forward and take the Big Prize in rugby!
By Hafiz Marikar
Rugby Football: Are Kandy Sports Club moving forward? Depending on
who you listened to after their latest win on 3rd of this month, which
made them the table leaders at the end of the first round. Once again
they have stuck largely to the same high-intensity, highly physical,
brand of rugby. When it works, it really works.
Kandy Sports Club have plenty of positives going forward, and they
have finally cracked the code and all in all, beat almost every team,
except Army SC. In this leg, they have scored 302 points, with 46 tries,
27 conversions and 6 penalties.
Kandy's forward strength in particular, has increased to raise their
game significantly in 2015, but not many teams can push them around in
the second round which kicks off on the 16th January with their first
match fixed for Sunday the 18th at Nittawella. Kandy are hoping to
present good quality rugby, for which they have plenty of pace and skill
in their backline.
Kandy Sports Club, one-time king makers of he game, went on to give
off their best in the first round games, specially in the game against
Navy Sports Club at Welisara where they beat Navalmen, and also they
beat Havelock Sports Club at Nittawella.
In their last first-round game, they beat CH and FC by 71 points,
made out of eight goals and three tires to 5 a try. When Kandy took the
field for the game against CH, they were placed second. However with
this massive win against CH, they occupy the top position in the table
with 40 points with sevens wins and a loss.
Kandy forwards and 'threes' far superior
The Kandy Sports Club forwards and the three-quarters are appearing
with superior tactics to the others. The Kandy Sports Club's
three-quarters were seen in some beautiful moves in the matches played
and their handling of the ball have been pleasing to watch. They are
bound to do well in the second round too. They have good set of
three-quarters, who have done well in the matches with some rousing
displays of rugby and were 'running' the ball at random to the viewing
pleasure of the rugby lovers.
Kandy Sports Club coach Johan Taylor has gone to another step ahead
and looked at players' roles during matches and given them a really
clear blueprint of exactly what he wants from them. The coach has got
the best from the scrum half.
At the end of the first round, Kandy Sports Club, in eight games, won
8, lost one, points 40. Navy Sports Club played 8 won 7 points 39.
Havelock Sports Club played 8 won 5, 33 points. CR and FC played 8
won 5, points 31, Army Sports Club played 8 won 5, points 29. Police SC
played 8 won 4, points 25. Hambanthota Sharks Sports Club played 8 won
2, points 11. CH and FC played 8, won 1, points 9, Air Force Sports Club
played eight, lost 8, points 3.
Now the second round is approaching and the tournament promises to be
a fine set of play from the teams. Overall, the game is growing and
players are improving, but here in rugby there is only one issue, that
is domestic referees issues. The referees must keep a close sheck on the
scrum halfs who feed the scrums and the strict check on the forward
passes and also crack down on time wasting tactics to get the best out
from a game.
At present, rugby is one of Kandy's most popular sports and is played
specially by most of the school and the only club is Kandy Sports Club.
Now there is a big need for a push forward by controlling body. What
what the SLRFU should do is to appoint high performance rugby promoters
to implement and monitor performance strategies.
Within Sri Lanka, the key elements in terms of high performance
include athletes, athlete pathway, coaches, coaching structures,
existing domestic competition structures, equipment and facilities (this
includes the upgrading of gymnasiums and rugby pitches), sports science
and sports medicine. It will be ideal if the SLRFU guides the Provincial
Unions to do their best, without being servants of others (by organising
other peoples tournaments).
Provincial Unions should improve standards
Role of the Provincial Unions should be to improve the standard of
play, support club teams, preparation and competition programmes.
And what's their looking at the second round?
Right now, Kandy Sports Club would be hoping to win the 2014 league,
but Navy Sports Club and Havelock Sports Clubs still have a chance to
end on a high. No matter how tired Havelock Sports Club might be after
their performance in the first round.
As for Navy Sports Club, they need to take a leaf out of their
playbook.
Looking at aIl, I think the second round is looking very open to
clubs like Kandy S.C., Navy SC and Havelock SC.
I don't think there will be any other club capable of coming to the
top. Let's see what happens!
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