We’ve come to the final weekend of the Dialog Rugby A Division League tournament. It’s been a good tournament, probably need to review it after the last round of games. Navy have won the Cup and have upto now remained unbeaten.
It was a feat that Kandy managed a few times, but that was before the league got much more competitive. To remain unbeaten in 2014 is a more commendable feat than it may have been a few years ago, with no disrespect intended to Kandy’s achievements.
The final weekend brings around two important games in that Navy need to fight tooth and nail away from their home ground for the coveted unbeaten tag, and Upcountry taken on CR also in a match that will decide fourth place. There have been three clear groupings in the league this time, with champions Navy, Kandy and Havelocks in the upper tier. Lions, CR and Army have remained competitive within their grouping and Police has been there and thereabouts. Air Force, the Sharks and CH have brought up the rear and the groupings are almost inextricably linked to the resources available in terms of coaching, and foreign players.
The foreign recruits have dominated this year, and Navy’s dynamic foursome of Setefano Cakau, Mateaki Kofatalu, Jone Avokia Vota and Joeli Lutumailagi have been devastating. Havelocks and Kandy called on some Tongan firepower, and despite the presence of Hale T Pole, Havelocks were not able to find the devastating pace and power needed to breach local defences. The match up this weekend under lights should be interesting.
CR v Upcountry
This is one of two games that CR played at home in the second round. The Lions smashed them up in Nawalapitiya and some injuries to key players have meant that CR are underdogs. Kavindu De Costa has a fractured shoulder courtesy of the Army and other niggles have meant that they may not be able to be at full strength.
The Lions featuring some old CR faces in Nigel Ratwatte and Srinath Sooriyabandara, will attempt to keep the ball away from the heavy Red Shirts pack. The midfield defence will need to be exceptional if CR are to stop the likes of Ratwatte, Soori and Kanchana Ramanayake who has been having a storming season.
The foreign referee entrusted with this game will play a key part this afternoon and the game is actually too close to call. It’ll go with the team that can play for 80 minutes. And with only a 5 day turnaround from a gruelling Army game, that may just be UCL.
Army v Kandy
Army have come out of their Diyagama safe haven to play Kandy at the Race Course. Still smarting from their one point defeat against CR, the Army lads will come out fighting. However, they lack finish, and only have Lalai Jale Bola and Esava Dilai as genuine line breakers. Despite their best efforts, the Kandy line may just have a little too much quality for the Army threes
Although the Army tight five has been excellent this season, the counter attack may leave them vulnerable and the possibility of slipping to third place, may ignite Kandy’s fire. It could be a try fest.
Havelocks v Navy
The ultimate clash will be between the two recent foes. There’s plenty of reason for each Club to want to win this. Havies will want to make a statement after they were well beaten at Welisara and Nittawela. However, whether they can find the fluency to do that will be the key. Playing under lights, the Havelocks forwards may last longer and just make the difference between the win and the loss.
Navy’s destructive Fijians will be the ones to watch once again. They are deadly from turnover ball, and Chanaka Chandimal has matured over the course of this season as a fly half. These are undoubtedly the heaviest forward packs in the country with good set pieces, and it should be an enthralling upfront battle with Pathirana and Muthuthanthri eager to show their wares to the selectors against Rajapaksha and Gertha.
A lot will depend on the showing Niroshan Fernando in the no. 10 jersey for Havies, wihile Nuwan Hettiarachchi will know that points will be at a premium as he returns to the ground where it all started for him. Navy have more attacking threats, and with the momentum of an unbeaten season it is difficult to see them being knocked off their perch on the final hurdle.
