Round two of the Dialog Rugby League is set to get underway this weekend with the league wide open and all participants looking for a win to resume their respective championship campaigns.
Round two kicks off with table toppers Havelock SC travelling to meet bottom of the table neighbours CH & FC on Thursday 29th. 30th of December sees Navy host Police while CR & FC travel to Ratmalana to play Air Force. Week one of round two will draw to a close as Kandy plays host to Army at Nittawala.
CH & FC v Havelocks
Date: 29th December 2016
Time: 4pm
Venue: CR & FC Grounds
Havelocks will hope to get back to winning ways as they travel to Race Course tom strugglers CH & FC. The lads from Havelock town tasted defeat for the very first time this season in the final round but will be aiming to restore parity this weekend.
Round one result:
Havelocks 48 – 05 CH & FC at Havelock Park.
Players to watch out for:
Kasun Srinath has been ever present for CH both in open play and at the breakdown and will have a major role to play throughout the second round.
Vishva Deeneth, has been in the starting lineup more often than not and whenever called up has stood up to do his part with the boot.
Sharo Fernando has been in sublime form for Havelocks and the one try he has to his name does not do justice to the work he has been doing for the men in Pink, particularly in the breakdown.
The man with kicking duties for Havis, Dulaj Perera came back from injury this season and has spurred the park side towards new heights. Thus far, he has accumulated 92 ponts and will look to add to his tall on Thursday.
Navy v Police
Date: 30th December 2016
Time: 4pm
Venue: Welisara
Navy hosts Police in Welisara, knowing that they must keep up their pace in order to challenge the league leaders Havelocks and Kandy. On the other hand, Police come in with the need to improve on a horrible first round after recording a solitary win from seven games.
Round one result:
Police 08-29 Navy at Police Park.
Players to watch out for:
Thilina Weerasinghe, the highest points scorer from last season has been rather subdued this time around. He will be pivotal for Navy in their quest to be champions and look to make the most of Police SC’s waning form.
Dulanjana Wijesinghe, has been a presence in the middle of the scrum and in broken play. He has played a vital role as a ball carrier for Navy, scoring 6 tries in the process.
Radeesha Seneviratne, has been a workhorse for Police, not only in the first round but over the past couple of seasons. Although their title hopes are all but gone, the Forwards line will look to Radeesha to carry them towards a respectable mid-table finish in the league.
Rajitha Sansony has been the single stand-out player in the back line for Police this season. With the ability to slot in at either fly half or fullback, Sansony has been good with the boot but will be seeking to revive his team in what is expected to be a tough game for the cops.
Air Force v CR & FC
Date: 30th December 2016
Time: 4pm
Venue: Air Force Grounds
Air Force was expected to put up a stern test against Navy but failed to live up to expectation, losing the final game in round one. Air Force will be seeking to revitalize their challenge but CR & FC will be hoping to put Air Force to the sword as they lock horns this weekend.
Round one result:
CR & FC 57-20 Air Force at Longdon Place
Players to watch out for:
Gayantha Iddamalgoda will have a major role to play if Air Force are to get anything out of this game. Iddamalgoda has shone on and off and will be hoping to bring some consistency into his game and carry it through the second round.
Young half back Ashok Wijekumar will be back at number 9 for Air Force following national duty. He was duly missed and will be a welcome addition to the team.
Tarinda Ratwatta has been in sublime form for CR throughout the first round. Following the switch from flyhalf to centre, Tarinda has scored try after try and will be aiming to go higher on the points scorers list while taking his team towards victory.
Captain Shane Sammaddapperuma played a major role for CR this season and has marshaled his troops to get back to winning ways following a few issues in the beginning of the season.
Kandy v Army
Date: 31st December 2016
Time: 4pm
Venue: Nittawala
It has come down to a must win stage for Kandy if they are to have any chance of retaining the champions tag. On the other side of the coin, lay Army, who, having lost five of their seven games, will be seeking to go out and spoil the Kandy party.
Round one result:
Army 10 – 34 Kandy at Race Course
Players to watch out for:
Dhanushka Ranjan has slotted in smoothly into the Kandy jersey proving his worth time and time again. With 8 tries to his name and leading the way, Dhanushka will be aiming to carry his good form forward.
Richard Dharmapala continued from where he left off last season and sits second on the try scoring sheet at the end of the first round. Kandy will be banking on Richard to carry his good form through to the second round.
Last season’s captain Ashoka Jayalal played a vital part in Army’s first round even though Army managed just two wins.
Captain of the Army team Manoj Silva, was instrumental from the back and will be looking forward to leading his troops through with more wins in the second round.
