This weekends’ matches went a long way in deciding the title race. Upto now, three teams were in it, with Kandy and Havelocks challenging the frontrunners Navy.
But with the twists of this Sunday, Havelocks have all but been prevented from winning the title, giving Kandy only an outside chance of victory, while Navy remain in pole position to win their maiden championship.
UCL v Army
In the return encounter that Army so eagerly anticipated as their most accessible higher ranked scalp, it was a small margin that saw fortunes reversed. Playing at home, Nawalapitiya managed to win 21 – 17. Eventually, Nigel Ratwatte’s boot seperated the two sides who both managed to score two tries each.
It has been the story of Army’s season, where they get close but just not close enough. There is just not enough experience or quality in the Army side to sustain them through a season. And like Police, they too have ridden on the coat tails of their foreign players. UCL too have managed to stay in fourth place and move back into that position which is where they deserve to be this season.
They have some potential, but in the first couple of seasons will find it difficult to match the top sides which have vast resources and a wealth of talent at their disposal. The game itself was stop-start with neither team able to get into their stride. It is an important win for the Lions and put them in prime position for the fourth spot in the league. Army however picked up another bonus point, and the fight for fourth will be interesting to watch.
Navy v CR
On a scorching afternoon, the players and the referee all found themselves unable to get in any rhythm and flow in this game. Although CR had plenty of ball available to them, the devastating counter attacks by Navy’s foreigners in particular meant that CR had no chance of sniffing a victory.
Alisi Tupuailai starting in the no. 8 shirt made two telling breaks early on in the game from turnover ball, firstly putting converted flanker Jason Dissanayake over in the corner, and then making a devastating 60m run to score himself off the ensuing restart. Those two tries sapped CR’s confidence and Saliya Handapangoda’s score from a superb Lee Keegel break gave the visitors a mountain to climb at 25-10.
CR tried to come back into the game and their rolling maul yielded tries to Dushanth Lewke and Ishan Noor, while a rejuvenated Lafaele Va’a planted a third to give the red shirts some hope. But the closest they got through Mubarak’s boot was 25-20 soon after the break when dangerman Setefano Cakau was sin binned. CR failed to capitalise on the numerical advantage when Hasthike Bandaranayake joined Cakau in the bin, and surrendered the advantage.
The enforced change meant Bilal Hassen came on at no.8 and Tupuailai moved into the centres where he is most dangerous alongside the returning Cakau. This combination, which probably should start all Navy games, destroyed CR returning the loose ball which they turned over innumerable times. Nuwan Hettiarachchi was at his devastating best with the boot, converting almost everything and then hitting the crossbar off a spectacular 58 metre effort. With him and Jason Dissanayake’s physicality on the wing, CR were decimated and went through the motions for the last half hour.
Joeli Lutumailagi compounded the visitors’ misery when he and Jone Avokia Vota combined for a couple of tries late in the game, with the hapless CR defence left stranded.
With Podi Swarnatilleka able to last 80 minutes and Sathya Ranathunga, Dulanjan Wijesinghe, Achala Perera and Namal Rajapakse Navy have probably the best front row depth despite Havies’ experience. This really told on the opposition and Kalana Amarasinghe’s return to the front of the line out, mean that they will be difficult to stop if they play smart rugby, which they did on Saturday. With Yoshitha Rajapakse returning to the field after recovering from an ankle injury, Navy’s depth is something coach Leonard De Zilwa will be very happy about. The bonus point win, puts Navy well clear at the top of the table, with three weekends to go in the championship.
Kandy v Havies
In just a few weeks, the transformation in the intensity of the Kandy team has been remarkable. Marija’s return to form has helped the team rise to the expectations of their demanding home crowd, and their 33 – 25 win against Havelocks was convincing in the end although the defending champs didn’t take their chances.
With two new Tongan U20 recruits in their ranks, Kandy came out all guns blazing although Henry touched down first for the visitors. The game was fast and open with both teams playing sevens style rugby. Kandy knew that they will not be able to match Havelocks in a slow paced game, and for the first time this season got their tactical approach spot on. The Havies too got sucked into this run and pass game and in the end did not have the fitness or the manpower to pull it off.
With the game poised on a knife edge at 21-20 Havelocks dropped the ball twice on the try line and a newly confident Kandy ran it back 90m to score at the other end and take a 28-20 lead which eased the pressure somewhat. But in this twisting turning game that saw the lead change hands several times, Havies made one final lunge which Kandy again repelled to score again to make it 33-20 and the Havelocks final try was merely a consolation.
The game was played at an exceptional pace, and the players were out on their feet towards the end. It was clear that Kandy were in better condition to dictate the pace and Havelocks’ big forwards couldn’t sustain the pace. In fact, the toll was so great that even chasing the game in the last 15 minutes Havies opted to kick rather than be patient with the ball in hand. It was a game full of belief from Kandy, and they also had David Halaifonua to thank for his contribution. The big Tongan centre was at his devastating best, and was not shackled in the same way that Ranjan had managed to shut him down in the first game. Although Ranjan did score two tries, his defence in the last encounter was much more valuable to his side.
With this bonus point win, Kandy give themselves an outside chance if they can beat Navy at Welisara and other results go their way.
Police v AF
A brilliant display by Apisaia and Rockobiau in the Police midfield made for a blistering beginning by the cops against the Airmen. Unfortunately, while Air Force were coming back into the game a massive stand clearing brawl saw the game being called off. According to the SLRFU rule book point 19 b1, if a match is stopped at half time or during the second half and cannot be completed the same day, the result will stand. There by the Police by virtue their 34 points win the match and continue to be favourites for the Plate championship.
