CR and FC host Kandy in crunch game today
Rib bruising no quarter given clash expected
by Lal Gunesekera
RUGBY: Today is 'D' Day for both CR & FC and Kandy Sports Club. They
are the only two unbeaten sides in six first-round games of the Caltex
'A' Division League Rugby Championship. This evening's confrontation
between these two sides at Longden Place could well decide the champions
and a terrific tussle for supremacy could be expected.
Battle plans would have been drawn up weeks ahead for this vital
clash and today they will be put into operation. However, much the
coaches draw up plans, it's left to the players to demonstrate their
willingness to put them into operation. Sure, both teams are unbeaten,
but can they be satisfied with their performances up to date? It was
pretty obvious that these two outfits will score heavily against weak
opposition. They did it, but when they came up against tougher
opponents, they had to fight all the way.
Kandy's victories have been against Old Zahirians (77-0), Army
(66-3), Air Force (82-3), Police (29-13), Havelocks (24-10) and CH & FC
(16-11), while CR's wins have been over Army (32-3), Air Force (23-10),
Police (81-11), Old Zahirians (93-7), CH & FC (19-13) and Havelocks
(28-6).
Last year (2006), Kandy came on top (17-12) at Longden Place in the
second-round after winning the first-round game too (15-14). CR won
(20-8) at Longden Place in the first-round in 2005, but Kandy won the
"return" 23-15.
A victory today for Kandy could see them winning the League title for
the seventh consecutive year and whether they could realise this dream
is left to be seen. It will be a morale-booster for the second-round
matches. Kandy has a terrific set of forwards and an equally good
back-division, but a question mark yet remains over the fitness of
fly-half Marija and Pradeep Liyanage. If they play, Kandy, will be at
full strength, although centre Chamara Vithanage has been suspended.
CR last won the League title in 1998 nine years ago. That is far too
long a period for an outfit like CR wait to regain it. But, they are
determined to do so this year and will hope for a better display from
their players than in the last two games against CH & FC and Havelocks.
CR have the resources to come on top, but when it comes to a crunch game
(like today against Kandy), it is left to be seen how well they will
perform.
The humid conditions in the metropolis may not suit Kandy, and this
could well tilt the scales in favour of the Red Shirts.
CR & FC: Danushka Boteju, Anuja Perera, Duminda pullikuttiarachchi,
Anurudha Dharmatilleke (captain), Ashen Karthelis, Pavithra Fernando,
Navin Wijetunga, D. Henry, Amjad Buksh or Zulki Hameed and Omar
Sarifudeen, Dinesh Kumara, Mohamed Sheriff, Lasintha de Costa, Ravindra
Wefodapola, Ashan de Costa.
KANDY: Jeewa Galamuwa (captain), Anuranga Walpola, Kishore Jehan,
Senaka Bandara, Sumedha Jayasinghe, Sean Wijesinghe, Dushan Lewke, Dilip
Selvam, Saliya Kumara and Fazil marija, Sanjeewa jayasinghe, Pradeep
Liyanage, Mohamed Jabbar, Sameera Silva, Nalaka Weerakoddy.
The other game down for decision today is CH & FC vs Havelocks at
Maitland Crescent.
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