This could actually be one of the more one sided weekends in the Dialog Rugby League, and even that has one mouthwatering clash on offer.
Havies v Police
Police’s luck is unlikely to get any better or worse on Friday the 13th, as they travel to Havelock Park to take on the unbeaten defending champions. Havelocks have been steadily improving, and although their team doesn’t look to be in peak physical or tactical form, they will get better as the second round gets nearer. Unbeaten after four weeks of competition, they will know that the hardest work for them is still to come.
However, being last year’s winners, their run up to the tougher games has been more forgiving, and they have time to come good. It is unlikely that the young Police side can match up to the experienced forward pack of Havelocks, although the new Police foreign recruit maybe someone to watch out for. A winger with Wellington’s ITM Cup team, he could add some muscle to the police backline and see them trouble the Havies.
AF v Lions
The Upcountry Lions will travel to Ratmalana to take on Air Force on Saturday. Yet to win a game this season the homegrown Air Force team are unlikely to break the duck this weekend against a Lions team that is yet to deliver their best.
CH v Navy
CH who are also yet to win a game, will host the high riding Navy team at Maitland Crescent. After their win against Kandy in Nittawela, this match should not post any terrors for Navy and it is likely they will rest several of their players for this game.
This will not help CH though as even the second string players will be anxious to show coach Mothilal Jayathilaka that they should be in the starting line up and we might see an avalanche of tries. The key to their success has been a big experienced forward pack this year, and it is no coincidence that the teams with the best forwards are unbeaten so far.
Setefano Cakau seems to be the most dangerous runner in the league so far and it remains to be seen whether he will be picked for this game.
CR v Army
This seems to be the closest match up of the weekend, with Army having suffered only one loss travelling to CR who have suffered three losses so far. The Army will be sensing blood, and this is one game where there will be no favourite or underdog.
No doubt the Army team is probably in the best condition of any of the teams in the competition so far. They are strong, fast and mobile and already have the scalp of the Upcountry Lions to their credit. They also scored tries against Kandy, which CR were unable to do.
However, the CR team has faced some tough hurdles in the first half of the season. Their fixtures get easier in the new year, but December is their make or break month with Havelocks, Army and Navy back to back. Rimzie Jamaldeen seems to have settled into the fly half position with Rahul de Silva from the base. The interesting call for CR is whether they run against a combative Army team or whether use a tactical kicking game to pressure the line out.
It should be very close contest, and unlike in Kandy last week, where people were talking about the refereeing, hopefully this match will not require any such discussion. Although I doubt that. The Army foreigners are dangerous. They are bigger and more devastating than the CR counterparts and they may score early. However, CR have the staying power to see it out in eighty minutes. Should be a cracker.
Kandy v Sharks
The Hambanthota lads will travel up to Kandy to take on a bruised Kandy team who lost at Nittawela for the first time in 13 years. Sunday’s match should see a return of the Kandy faithful crowd who saw their terraces encroached by the Navy supporters last week.
After the loss, this will be an ideal opportunity for coach Footie to switch some combinations around. Roshan Weeraratne has not been at his devastating best, and it may be prudent to bring back the 9.10 axis that has worked so well for the team, by reuniting him with Fazil Marija. Fili could occupy the no. 12 berth, but also bringing in David Halaifonua into a ball carrying berth would be an interesting move.
There is no doubt Kandy will win this game. But the quality of the performance and the combinations will be interesting to see.
