Dialog Rugby League – Preview Week 11

Three games on Saturday and one game on Sunday at this week’s Dialog Rugby League. Despite two losses in the first , champions Kandy have come back strong to put themselves in a position to defend the title despite two losses in the first round.

The Breakdown – Kandy v CR&FC arch-rivals thriller

Roshan Weerarathne’s men had a spectacular win over the Sailors last week but there is a possibility that the captain might miss this week after a collar-bone injury. However, Kandy has enough strength on their bench to put on another epic show. Having said that, this season the champions have not had the best of runs as a visiting side losing to Air Force and Navy.  The Police team looks like a revamped outfit but last weekend’s narrow loss would have caused some chaos in the ranks.

Police will miss Udara Gayan the prop who is suffering from dengue fever. He was a vital cog upfront for the cops this season. Loose forward Radeesha Senavirathne is playing well and would no doubt be knocking at selection for the Tuskers. Full back Rajitha Sansoni  was the other highlight with his educated left foot, but if Police want to create an upset Mushin Faleel and Reezah Raffaideen have to work tirelessly to stop the opposite 12 and 13, the deadly duo of Gayan Weerartne & Danushka Ranjan. Kandy will try to work wide to use the -on-fire Richard Dharmapala, who has been sensational this season. But full back Thilina Wijesinghe has been the unsung hero from the hill capital. His superior performance has left Danush Dayan on the bench and it will be interesting to see where Nigel Ratwatte would play once he is fully recovered from injury.

First round score : Kandy 34 – 09 Police

After a disappointing finish last week, the  Sailors title hopes would be dim. But this weekend’s fixture would give them a boost to win big with the underdogs CH. Lahiru Herath, the Navy center who was from CWW Kannangara has played a major role alongside Lee Keegel. Navy has a youthful bench with 70% under 20 players. Supun Dilshan & Thanuja maduranga the Science College duo has had the good experience of playing in front of 1000’s at Nittawela. Coach Mothilal Jayathilake will surely give a lot of time to the youngsters this weekend.

CH&FC is lacking some good finishers and X factor players. Rohitha Rajapaksa playing a different game at 10 which saw him playing  a good game last week in the match against CR&FC. However, CH winning this game is unlikely and their defense will be tested  this Saturday.

First round score : Navy 55 – 03 CH&FC

An astonishing finish by the Airmen last weekend over Police SC. Trailing 8 – 0 down in the first half and looking more physically fitter than the opposition in the last 40 earned a 15 – 13 win. With the current form surely Air Force will give the men in pink a hard time. Dinesh Weerarathne and Soorya Krishan have been brilliant this season along with skipper Gayantha Iddamalgoda. Nuwan Perera’s kicking will be the main source this week as he needs to be nice and sharp.

Hirantha Perera and Nishon Perera’s center combination is going well so far, Niroshan Fernando and Mithun Hapugoda are still recovering from injury but the highest points scorer Dulaj Perera is controlling the game well for the park club and good to see Chamara Dabare scoring some tries. But interestingly didn’t see a single try coming from the Havies forwards last weekend.

First round score : Air Force 05 – 29 Havelocks

CR edge past soldiers in the first match which was also the first game of the season.

Looking at the points table CR&FC still has a chance to finish second on the table if they win the  remaining four games with a bonus point (63pts) andwill hope that Havelocks and Navy will lose two more games. Although it is highly unlikely, they can be the party crashers to shoot down the Havelocks or Navy’s hope in the coming weeks.

Army will hope to get revenge after the first round thrilling loss. But last week we saw so many unforced errors costing them the game. They need to be patient and make good decisions in order to do something different, because CR&FC look a  much improved team in the second round over the Soldiers.

Winger Iranga Ariyapala and outside half Ashan Bandara will be key in this game among the backs. Kavindu De Costa and Rizah Mubarak’s half back combination will be tested for the CR reds.

First round score : Army 24 – 25 CR&FC