I was looking forward to previewing the Navy v Army game, especially as Army were unbeaten in their own backyard, and playing, this time, with foreign players, I would have previewed that this game will be close.
It’s a good thing the game was played before the preview was written then, because I would have looked like a right jackass at the end of it.
The game was played yesterday, for some bizarre reason, with little or no notice to many except possibly the two teams, and despite the presence of their foreign players, Army got completely steamrolled for the first time this season at Diyagama.
After conceding 46 points in the first half, Army conceded 25 more in the second, and the 10 tries Navy scored were converted, all bar one, by Nuwan Hettiarachchi and Chanaka Chandimal. There was no coming back for Army, who did at one point get within 9 points at 46-37, but conceding 71 points in a 124 point game was remarkable.
The result is aberrational and goes against the trend of results we have been seeing. Most of the games have been close, between the top sides, but this particular match was bizarre. Army got their bonus point though, so all is not lost for them, and Navy managed to make up some ground on the try count compared to Havies.
We’ve got two games coming though, and they really should be close.
CR v Havelocks
The return leg of the Maththysz Trophy was supposed to be played on Saturday, but has been moved to Sunday despite CR’s protests. With the defending champions wielding some clout in the upper echelons, the day’s rest will help them. The Havies demolition of the Southern Sharks showed the depth of talent they have on the bench, with Dulaj Perera and Rehan Thiyagarajah deputising brilliantly for Niroshan Fernando and Chamara Dhabare. Upfront, Hale T Pole, the Tongan flank forward didn’t even need to get changed, and Paula Kaho’s big forward pack dominated the scrums and line outs.
CR will be thanking their stars that Shenal Dias has gone back to America, but the likes of Fernando, Pathirana and Muthuthanthri will still be enough to shake the steady CR pack. Once again CR have been rocked by injuries to Hasthike Bandaranayake, Dimithri Wijethunga and captain Ishan Noor. Whether they can be competitive without those big boys is something that will remain to be seen on Sunday.
There is no denying the quality of the Havelocks line, with Dhabare and Herath in scintillating form. The latter finished brilliantly a few times against the Sharks and CR will have to stop the ball in midfield if they are to prevent these two running riot. Wishwamithra Jayasinghe on the opposite wing is blessed with more raw pace, but his defensive capabilities will be tested to the hilt. Havelocks seem to have found a replacement for Willie Hakalo’s inconsistent boot, and their new foreign recruit will contest the title of Dead Eye Dick with CR’s Rizah Mubarak who will have to be on target to keep his side in the contest.
It will be an interesting battle if CR can contest Havelocks upfront. Apart from Navy, they are probably the only side with the personnel to do so. If Havies win the forward battle though, it could be a long afternoon for CR.
Kandy v UCL
After their thumping win last week, the Lions will travel to Nittawela, to face a Kandy side that is facing recently unprecedented back to back weekends of losing. This is completely uncharacteristic for Kandy, and as Adrien Ferris, the newly appointed Head Coach remarked, the Kandy crowd will be baying for blood, if it happens.
Relocated at home, and smarting after a defeat to Havelocks, the Kandy side will want to retaliate, and something tells me the Lions maybe at the receiving end of the backlash. Danushka Ranjan shepherded Halaifonua well against Havies, but whether Kanchana Ramanayake can do the same is the 3rd – 4th place question. Fazil Marija will once again meet Srinath Sooriyabandara, his sevens halves partner, and how these two win their personal battle will be key to the contest.
Fazil has not set the field alight in the way we are used to seeing him. Whether it’s a fitness issue, fatigue, or just a loss of form we don’t know. But he’s too good a player to stay lukewarm for an entire season. Playing in his favourite position, he should boss tomorrow’s game as should Roshan Weeraratne who also has failed to fire.
Both teams are stronger in the backs than the forwards. But with Andrew Porter sidelined with a hamstring injury, it is doubtful that Kandy can exert too much dominance in this area. Momentum is certainly with the Lions side, and if they can upset Kandy, it will blow the entire bottom half of the Cup competition wide open.
Also on Sunday we have the Plate Championship games:
Police v CH
Police will host CH and given the way they are playing at the moment, they will probably overrun the bottom placed finishers. They have an abundance of foreign talent which will be a little too much for the CH lads to handle.
Air Force v Sharks
Air Force host the Sharks at Ratmalana and after the draw between the two sides early season, it might be AF’s turn for some joy. They have been steadily improving as a defensive unit, and scored 30 points against Army last week. If they can maintain that momentum, aided by the strong wind at Ratmalana, Air Forice may just edge this one, although the Sharks do have a sizeable foreign contingent.
