|
|
|
| Sunday, 21 August 2005 |
 |
|
 |
Sports |  |
| News Business Features Editorial
|
Kandy MUST win and score more tries to keep trophy : Mathematics to play important role By S. M. Jiffrey Abdeen Today is the day of decision - the destiny of the Caltex Rugby League "A" division title will be known when the defending champions Kandy Sports Club clash with the challengers CR and FC in the final game of the League Championship at the Nittawela Rugby Complex in Kandy at 4.30 p.m. Kandy Sports Club have been winning the league title since 1999 and done so comfortably and often wrapped up the title before the final game of the championship as a result of the substantial lead they had built up in the earlier games. But this year, it has proved to be a different case as the 'Red Shirts' have been in front from the commencement of the current year's league championship. In the table of points, Kandy has been behind CR & FC and they are still trailing behind with CR and FC having 51.55 points against 47.60 by Kandy SC. What does this mean that CR & FC is ahead by 3.95 points and Kandy will not only have to win this game, but also ensure that they score more tries than their opponents. So it is a close game of Mathematics that will come into play when the referee sounds the long blast this Sunday. So be sure to be there with your pocket calculators in case you want to make sure of the final outcome of the game. For the record CR and FC is unbeaten to date and they have beaten Kandy too at the Longden Place just five weeks ago. A win here for CR & FC will give them the league title and a loss will result in mathematics coming into play as the points will have to be worked out with precision. CR and FC will go into this game with confidence as they have conquered all opposition with ease and the fact that they beat Kandy 20-8 in the first round game, should give them the added confidence. Led by third-rower Pavithra Fernando, CR & FC have been enjoying one of their best seasons since 1998, as they have managed to remain unbeaten till the final game of the League Championship. If they are beaten here and lose the championship title, it will be a travesty of justice to their consistence. CR's third row of S. Walpola, Ashan Karthelis and Shamly Nawaz have been terrific, this season. On form they could match the Kandy's eight. In addition, CR's halves combination has been superb with nippy scrum half Zulki Hameed pairing off well with Asanga Senaviratne. Centres Harin Kaluarachchi and Rajith Jayasundera too are in fine fettle along with winger M. J. Mustaq. In the scrums too, CR's experienced hooker Viraj Prasantha should strike it faster than Kandy's Ansar Buksh or Malith Silva. Former Kandy's full back Dhanushka Pushpakumara now with the 'Red Shirts' has the ability to join the three-quarters to form the overlap which will be a bonus to the visiting side. Kandy Sports Club who will have the herculean task of defending their title, have not been playing the way they should and in keeping with their true potential. One match they run up a big score in the next one they scrape through to a win and this had been the hallmark of their performance this season. Take for example the game against Navy. They struggled to beat Navy in Kandy but down in Colombo in the blistering heat of Colombo, they downed the sailors with a handsome 55-15 win. What is more is the fact that they had scored the required number of tries to be almost alongside with their challengers to make their task easier today. Led by one of the finest wingers this country has seen Sanjeewa Jayasinghe, Kandy SC forwards have not clicked and their play has been disappointing. The retirement of Asoka Jayasena and the non-availability of Pradeep Basnayake and injuries Buddhika Talagampola, Sean Wijesinghe, Dilip Selvam left a big gap which they found hard to fill. The return of Pradeep Basnayake and Dilip Selvam for the Navy match saw a world of difference and this could give the 'Red Shirts' a lot of worry. Kandy's three quarters made up of Buddhika Hettiarachchi, Sanjeewa Jayasinghe, Chamara Withanage, Pradeep Liyanage, and Sajith Mallikarachchi a virtual Sri Lanka 'line' have been playing well. Their halves combination of Amjad Buksh and Fazil Marija could well match with ease their opponents halves. Full back Nalaka Weerakoddy too has been playing well, but, his place-kicking should be at its best in this all important clash. Thus a close game could be expected. Kandy SC (from) Duminda Pullakuttiarachchi, Jeewa Galgamuwa, Kapila Silva, Pradeep Basnayake, Buddhika Talagampola, Sumedha Jayasinghe, Sean Wijesinghe, Dilip Selvam, Imran Bisthamin, Amjad Buksh, Fazil Marija, Radhika Hettiarachchi, Pradeep Liyanage, Sajith Mallikarachchi, Sanjeewa Jayasinghe, Chamara Withanage, Nalaka Weerakoddy, Ansar Buksh, Ajith Prasanna, Lasantha Mallikarachchi, Nilufer Ibrahim, Sameera Silva, Prasad Chathuranga, Saranath Hettiarachchi, Mohamed Rizvi. CR & FC (from) Dhanushka Botegu, Viraj Prasantha, Suranga Swarnatilleke,
Anuranga Walpola, Anuradha Dharmatilleke, Sevantha de Sarem, Pavithra
Fernando (Captain), Ashan Karthelis, Shamly Nawaz, Zulki Hameed and Asanga
Rodrigo, Rajith Jayasundera, Heron Kaluarachchi, M. J. Mustaq, M. Sherifdeen,
Dhanushka Pushpakumara. |
|
| News | Business | Features
| Editorial | Security
| Produced by Lake House |
