This weekend brings to the adoring following, the most anticipated clash of the Dialog A Division Rugby League so far. Navy takes on Havies. The two unbeaten teams. With a lot at stake. More on that soon.
Army v Sharks
Unfortunately for Army, who had high hopes for this season, they’ve lost their foreign players. This will give the Sharks a smell of blood, and after their improved performance against CR last week, we might just see another big upset in this game. Nevertheless, at home, the Army boys are unlikely to come unstuck. They are better prepared than their rivals and this should pay dividends over the last twenty minutes of the game. It should be close though.
Air Force v CR
CR travel to Ratmalana to take on Air Force who will be buoyed by their maiden win last week. CR dropped the ball against Sharks last week and failed to pick up an all important bonus point. They will not want to do the same this time as well. Returning skipper Ishan Noor, coming back after a long injury lay off, will need to ensure his team get maximum points in order to mount a credible challeng in the next round.
Air Force have been a very physical side, and they will come out firing. The early onslaught will have to be weathered, and CR have a history of not being a team that travels well. The intensity will be high from Air Force, and there is a chance that unless the Red Shirts match that intensity, this game could be a lot closer than initially expected.
Lions v Kandy
The once untouchable Kandy team have returned to almost their purring best. The line is working in the manner envisaged and David Halaifonua is running opposition defences ragged. Kandy are building from the rubble, and have an exciting blend of young players, with the Perera twins, Anuruddha Wilwara, Thilina Wijesinghe, Danush Dayan joining the likes of the established Roshan Weeraratne as the backbone of this Kandy side.
They will be up against a team desperate for a win. And on home soil, who knows. The Upcountry Lions have the incisive Srinath Sooriyabandara, and up against his sevens team mate Fazil Marija at fly half, it will be an enthralling battle to watch. The only diffeerence is the pace out wide, which Kandy possess in abundance. Nigel Ratwatte is barely an attacking threat from full back and if coach Imthie Marikar changes his game plan and hits Kandy upfront, they may get some joy.
It should be a comfortable win for Kandy. Although I say should, stranger things have happened.
CH v Police
After the thrashing at the hands of Kandy last week, Police will be determined to destroy CH. The cops too have had their problems with the resignation of coach Nizam Jamaldeen. However, they are very much the favourites for this game.
CH, after losing a close game against AF last week, in the one match that they might have won this year, will be further demoralised and Sanath Martis’ team will really need to defend well in the forwards to prevent this Police pack overrunning them.
Police have some good foreign players, and that will dictate how this game goes.
Navy v Havelocks
Where do you begin on this one? These are two of the most evenly matched sides you’ll see. So who becomes the most important player on the field. That’s right – you guessed it, Priyantha Guneratne. He is going to have a mammoth task ahead of him and how he controls the breakdown will decide the fate of this game.
Havelocks are technically sounder at the breakdown. There is no question of that. This game will pitch the two best third rows in the country against each other. My mouth waters at the prospect of Muthuthanthri, Pathirana and Fale’afa taking on Perera, Rajapaksa and Kofatalu. The Havies seem fitter and if the refs blow the tackler not releasing penalty early on, it could be a long day for the Navy forwards. If this goes missing, then they’ll have problems.
Where Navy have the edge though is in the front row, where they have ample resources. Podi Swarnatilleka has been resurgent this season and his ball carrying will be a threat to the Havelocks close in. Sajith Saranga is slowly regaining fitness while Soyuru Anthony and Jason Dissanayake should also add much needed mobility.
The other pitched battle will be that between Viliami Hakalo for Havelocks and the devastating Setefano Cakau, the Fijian sevens star. Hakalo has scored important tries this season for the defending champs while Setefano has destroyed defences, and scored two brilliant solo efforts against Kandy, no less. Will these two nullify each other in midfield? Time will tell.
This match also brings together two sets of powerful wingers. Dhabare – if he is fit – will pair off with Herath, against Susantha and Dinusha Chathuranga. If he is not fit, Mithun Hapugoda will man one wing and give away a little physicality to Susantha. Where Navy have a distinct advantage though is at no. 9 and no.15. Nuwan Hettiarachchi at full back is in scintillating form with the ball in hand. Maybe a little less so with the boot, but he currently has the edge over Mohamed Sherriff. Irfath Meedin has also not been performing slickly from the base and he seems unable to rally the forwards ahead of him. Perhaps there is a case for Paula Kaho to start the experienced Zulki Hameed in this game to add the physical dimension to combat Suranga Pushpakumara who is back to full fitness.
There are some intriguing battles in this game. I’m not going to call it with any certainty, but the home ground advantage and absence of Dhabare, may just tip things in Navy’s favour.
