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!