Kandy out to win well again over Airmen

by Hafiz Marikar

Kandy Sports Club will be looking to round up the second round championship of the 'A' division Rugby on a high when they face the winless Air Force Sports Club. These two clubs met in the 'opener' of the first round at Ratmalana and the Kandy side went over fifty points. For this game, the home team is expected to use their bench players. So, the kickoff is set for today (Sunday) at 4.30 p.m. at Nittawela.

Today, Kandy Sports Club will be looking to make a big victory. It is going to be fairly physical and what Kandy Sports Club needs is strong defensive finish to the end of the game, and they are sure to concentrate on around selections and that's where they are going to score. So a couple of changes are likely to be there.

They will try to balance the physical aspect without altering the team structure too much. There are players who have had a long season and played almost every minute in the tournament and are starting to feel the wear and tear of such a demanding competition. So they should play the best for a great finish.

In the last game, two weeks back Kandy Sports Club settled for a draw with CR and FC and Air Force Sports Club last week went down to Navy Sports Club. Kandy Sports Club in the last game played some beautiful rugby even though they came out on the wrong side of the result, after playing some positive attacking rugby and the way they threw the ball around in the opening half was very impressive, but failed to play well in the last quarter of the game.

Nittawela club's play-maker Fazil Marija knows very well it will be a game bound to be one sided, and what they need is a good score to climb up to top. Kandy are placed number two with a game less, and today they are sure to play flawless rugby. And also their forwards are a formidable lot playing together for some time and are good in their rucking and driving.

Air Force not upto mark

So today, as marked they must use their forwards more to get the ball, and their back up bridge is superb, at least three forwards can be seen, when their 'outsides' are going up to tackle. What ever said and done, Kandy Sports Club are reputed to have the best set of ruggerites, their three-quarter line is a tough bunch and the forwards have impressed in every game at Nittawela.

Air Force Sports Club have not been at their best in this year's tournament. They were unconvincing in many games but looked a better in few games, even though they still lost. They won only one game, that too had to be given off due to the losing side pulling out of the tournament, so now they are win less! The Airmen will be hoping to play the best side possible. Their forwards had a big say in the matches played so far.

The Airmen's back division too has capable players, but have failed to give the much wanted good play to win matches.

Kandy Sports Club's Rugby Chairman Lasantha Wijesuriya says it is going to be a good outing for Kandy as they still have another three games to play. Rugby has its own miracles and Lasantha thinks his boys did very well in this tournament. We will surprise a lot of people. We just have to hope that a win in our next matches will be enough for us to go through. We are with a good team that has done well and we do not give up and so we come into any game to do well.

Players to watch

For Kandy Sports Club - It is going to be the brain storming play maker, fly-half, Fazil Marija who is all out to play a vital role, with fullback Nigel Ratwatte, Chris Cloete, Anurudha Willwara and skipper Sean Wijesinghe.

For Air Force Sports Club - Fly-half Nuwan Perera is one of the players who gives off his best. The others who should do well are Patemeo Kocoturaga, Koilage Vilikesa, Ishara Madushanka will have to give off their best in ball-handling.

Head to head - Kandy Sports Club's has the fire power to gun down the Airmen. The opening fifteen minutes promises to give a firework display, with the Nittawela club's firepower, looking to cover all departments and should be home with a bag full of points. Both at forward and back division play, if Kandy play as a team, and if they play to the coaches guidance, then this game should be easy to score points.

Airmen must use the good ball they get and run the three-quarters when ever possible.

Prediction - Kandy Sports Club will inevitably give a good performance, with another game under their belts. The hosts are all-out to display a good game or run and pass rugby, for which they are famous at their home den. So, a chance to get your bonus points.

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, Asitha Ratnayake, Tharindu Chathuranga, Chris Cloete, Marcel Groenewald, Roshan Weerarathne, Saliya Kuamra, Fazil Marija, Arshad Jamaldeen, Damian Ratwatte, Gyan Weeraratne, Pradeep Liyanage, Buveneka Udangamuwa, Anuruddha Wilwara, Oscar Umar, Ishan Perera, Koto Pongi, Lavanga Perera, Drashana Ettipola, Nigel Ratwatte.

Air Force Sports Club (to be picked from): Saumya Silva, Pushpakumara Samarahewa, Buddhika Jayasinghe, Ranuka Medagedera, Pradeep Kurukulasuriya, Sanjeewa Patabendige, Suranga Arunashantha, Dinusha Weeraratne, Ishara Madushanka, Nuwan Perera, Danjaya Jero, Koilage Villkesa, Surya Krishan, Charith Senaratne, Paemeo Kocoturaga, Ranil Medegedera, Amal Dissanayake, Gayan Iddamalgoda, Lahiru Udaya, Lahiru Weerasinghe.