The second week of the league opened up the title contest as Air Force did the unthinkable and beat mighty Kandy SC after 33 years ending their 16-week reign on the top of the table. The Air Force victory brings in hope for the league as the next two weeks will be the decisive weeks in the competition in the first round.
The Breakdown : Air Force upset Kandy whilst Navy & Havelock’s looks solid
Army SC v Kandy SC
Date: 18th November 2016 (Friday)
Time: 4.00pm
Venue: Racecourse
After their shocking loss against Air Force last week, Kandy Sports Club had to surrender their top spot in the league and will be rethinking their strategy ahead of the Army SC encounter tomorrow. The Soldiers, however, will be in high spirits after a resounding win against CH & FC last weekend.
Results 2015/16:
1st Round: Kandy SC 44 – Army 8 Played at Nittawela
2nd Round: Kandy 19 – Army 8 Played at Ratmalana
Last year’s playmaker for Army Gayan Salinda seems to be getting his usual form back, kicking 3 conversions and a penalty against CH & FC. This game will be a tougher challenge for Salinda with the fast runners from Kandy posing a bigger threat than Ch’s back line.
Last week’s hero Chameera Silva (Army) will have to step up his game along with the passage of play that Army inherits. Silva who scored two tries last weekend will like to get his name on the score sheet once again and hopefully have his team on the winning side.
Kandy Sports Club’s Fazil Marija made a huge imapact in the last week’s losing game where his substitution changed the game around as he was instrumental in two tries. With him making his way back from injury, Kandy will look to dominate proceedings.
Richard Dharmapala did not have a great game against the Airmen but will look to resume business as usual in the wing.
Police SC v Air Force SC
Date: 18th November 2016
Time: 4.00pm
Venue: Police Park
The victorious Air Force Sports Club will march on to Police territory with aspirations of a second consecutive victory while hosts Police Sports Club will be looking forward to registering their first win of the season.
Results 2015/16:
1st Round: Police SC 24- Air Force 7
2nd Round: Police 24 – Air Force 12
Air Force’s victory against Kandy was crafted by Ashok Vijekumar, who handled the entire 80 minutes of play admirably at scrum-half, brushing shoulders with national scrum half Roshan Weeraratne. Facing the Cops at home, it will be important for him to adjust to playing in the Police Park conditions and continue his good form.
The Airmen will rely on the efforts of Ramdas Rumesh who was the top point scorer in their earlier outing with two tries.
Police’s stand out player, Radeesha Seneviratne will look to lead the charge for the Policemen to get them to their 1st win. Seneviratne’s capability to adapt to both forwards play and three-quarters was evident the last encounter with him playing #8 and scrum half.
Center Chula Susantha did not have the best outing last weekend and he will be intending to better himself against the Air Force where he will be given the freedom to run.
Havelock SC v CR&FC
Date: 19th November 2016
Time: 6.30pm
Venue: Havelock Park
The two traditional rivals will lock horns for the first time this season and a confident Havelock outfit, who are enjoying the top position in the league table, will be looking exploit CR & FC’s lack of for so far this season.
Results 2015/2016
1st Round: Havelock SC 34 – CR & FC 18
2nd Round: Havelock SC 26 – CR & FC 21
Dulaj Perera’s positional change from Center to Fly-half for the Havies was a good move for the side as he directed the team to a victory last weekend. Kicking 4 conversions and 3 penalties, the Sri Lankan sevens and XV’s sensation will look to maintain his form this weekend.
Chamara Dabare was the missing piece in the puzzle for the Havelock three-quarter line up and also contributed with a try covering a good 60m. It will be interesting to see the speedster back on track against a strong CR XV.
CR & FC’s ever consistent Rizah Mubarak will continue his kicking stint in the red jersey but will desperately want to take his team to victory this weekend against their hometown rivals. Mubarak was the standout performer last week, kicking two penalties and a conversion in a loss against Navy.
Skipper Shane Sammandapperuma who had a good outing in the first week will look to lead his team to a second win in the third week bolstering the troops from the front.
Navy SC v CH&FC
Date: 20th November 2016
Time: 4.00pm
Venue: Welisara
After a successful week, the Sailors will go into the third week undefeated and this will probably be an easy walk in the park for them against a disappointing CH & FC outfit.
Results 2015/2016
1st Round: Navy 67 – CH & FC 6
2nd Round: Navy SC 76 – CH & FC 13
The Navy hooker Dulanjana Wijesinghe will be the one to look out for in the Navy forwards line-up and the lineouts. He was exceptional in last week’s encounter, mastering the scrums and throw ins.
Lock forward Niwanka Prasad will be vital for the Navy outfit and with his pace and destructive strength, he will be opting to work on intercepting the ball from their opponents.
Last year’s hero from the CH & FC outfit Janith Chandimal will be looking to marshal his troops and try to have a considerable score against the opposition.
Returning player Rifkhan Siddeek will have to step up his game in the ruck and the breakdowns to counter against the hefty Navy forwards.
