Dialog Rugby league took a deserved break over the Christmas weekend after 7 weeks of exciting rugby. Having completed the first round we take a look at where each club stands before the second round action commences. A season some pundits predicted to be a stale affair has now sprung to life after some interesting results in the first round.

Bottom dwellers

Points Table 7-8 (2)CH & FC’s troubles continue for yet another season. A traditional club which has enjoyed many a success in the early years has had an ugly fall from glory and is barely competitive in the current season. 392 points have been scored against them; the highest conceded by any team in the first round explains why the Maitland Crescent club is still looking for their maiden victory in the current season and is at the bottom of the table.

CH & FC RUGBY

The cops who had a dismal season last year have gone from bad to worse this year as they have only managed a single victory and that too against the bottom placed CH & FC team.  Police are yet to find their rhythm despite having some promising talent in their squad. They will be focused on better performance in the second round to improve their current league standing.

POLICE SC RUGBY

Mid table

Points Table 4-6Mid table of the 2016/17 Dialog Rugby league features 3 teams, that have had mixed fortunes. One could also argue that Army SC doesn’t fit in this equilibrium as they have been largely unlucky throughout the first round.

Soldiers have been a force to be reckoned with putting up stiff competition irrespective of the opposition they’ve faced. A unit that is bolstered by the hardworking veteran forwards is placed 6th in the table having lost 5 games out of 7 they played.  Army will be hoping that they will have better luck and more creativity from their backs in the second round having lost to CR, Navy & Air Force with the slightest of margins in the first round.

ARMY SC RUGBY

Air Force team looks truly revamped this season. The Airmen did the unthinkable when they downed the domestic goliath Kandy SC in the first round surprising everyone and received deserved respect from rest of the teams in the league.  Coach De Zilwa’s work with the squad is really taking shape with the players keen to stick to the blueprints laid out by him.

AIR FORCE SC RUGBY

The Longdon Place club CR&FC have been the underperforming club of the first round. The red shirts have a promising youthful squad in their roster but find themselves fourth having lost their first round games against the top three teams. CR & FC was not convincing against the soldiers in the season opener and against Police at home but have shown good improvement in the latter part of the first round. Having gathered 25 points in the first round they are 9 points behind Havelocks and will have to lift their game to keep hopes of finishing in the top three.

CR & FC RUGBY

The three teams that occupy the mid table are capable of beating any team in the league on their day and it will be interesting to see if they can pull off giant killing performances which would change the dynamics of the league.

Top of the pot

Points Table 1-3Three teams, YES three teams are in the running to become the Dialog Rugby league 2016/17 Champions. Havelock SC is in pole position with 34 points and Navy SC in second place with the exact same number of points. Kandy SC having lost two games in the opening round came back strong to beat CR&FC and table leaders Havelocks in the last two games to keep their title hopes alive and is placed third with 33 points. Although having lost two fixtures, Kandy has managed to win all their games with a bonus point including two bonus points against Navy despite losing that game.   Kandy have a total of 8 bonus points against 04 points Havelocks and Navy have managed to gather in their first round encounters.

Reigning champions Kandy SC have had a bitter pill to swallow this season. With a start studded line up many expected the boys from the hill capital to storm past the rest of the teams in the league. A  shock defeated to Air Force at Ratmalana and a loss to the Sailors in Welisara put their title hopes in jeopardy. However despite losing two games in the first round Kandy will be a serious title contender in the second round trailing both Havelocks and Navy by one point in the standings.

KANDY SC RUGBY

Navy SC has risen as a title contender after a forgettable season last year. Navy went down to the Park club in a thriller at Havelock Park but managed to beat Kandy at home to keep their title hopes alive. Sailors will be focused and their outing to Nittawela will be the biggest hurdle in their quest to league glory.

NAVY SC RUGBY

Veteran rugby coach Ronny Ibrahim’s return to the club rugby league with Havelocks has been a successful affair so far this season. Havelocks remained unbeaten up until the last week of the first round but lost to Kandy in Nittawela. The Park club has arguably the most versatile and mobile forwards in the league and are complimented with a young energetic back line that includes game changers with international experience.

HAVELOCK SC RUGBY

It will be an interesting battle between the three top teams in the second round as they will be focused not only on winning but winning with 4+ tries in order to acquire the bonus point; it could be the decisive factor to the standings end of the year.