The new season of the Dialog Rugby League kicked off in a fine fashion between the defending champions Navy S.C and HSC Sharks at Beliatta on Friday with a two minutes silence as tribute for the Koslanda landslide tragedy. The early signs indicate a tough competition with well-balanced teams all-round.
Navy v Sharks
It was not the perfect start for the Sailors as they did not play really up to their potential despite a 35 – 15 win against the Sharks. Nevertheless it was a perfect start for the captain Yoshitha Rajapaksa where his individual brilliance claimed a hat-trick of tries in the opener.
Henry Terrence (115kg), Achala Perera (110 Kg), Eranga Swarnathilaka (107kg) this could not only be the heaviest front row but also the most experienced bunch of tanks to steer the Navy team from the front. As a result the Sailors driving maul was simply outstanding in the lineouts with Sharo Fernado collecting some good balls ending up with them scoring three tries in similar rhythm. Rizah Mubarak on his second run for the Sailors had 5/5 with his boot. Unfortunately for fly-half Chanaka Chandimal a terrible ankle injury took him away in ambulance. The position was neatly covered by genius Srinath Sooriyabandara.
Although Navy led the first half 28 – 06, it was a patchy second half as the Sharks had lost by only a point in the second with final score standing 35 – 15. Sharks had few chances in the opposite 22m but were unable to convert in to tries despite the veteran Amjad Buksh slotting in accurately for the Sharks with 5 penalties. Both sides fielded with one foreigner each; Joeli Luitumalagi for Navy and Joseph Dunn for the Hambantota gang, but it was not an excitement-packed 80 minutes from both the players despite Lutumalagi scoring a try just before half time.
Navy coach Leonard De Zilva was not too convinced with the second-half performance but said ‘Sailors have great potential; they will play as champions in the coming weeks’.
Significant : Navy lineouts and driving maul – Yoshitha Rajapaksa – Amjad Buksh
Kandy v Air Force
Internationally it was All Blacks who scored 12 tries against the USA Eagles last weekend, locally hill country boys had the most convincing starts out of all as they ran riot against the Airmen with a 12 try stunning 78 – 09 victory.
Iron man Anurudda Wilwara who was on song during the Asian 7’s series, started off storming first two tries for Kandy. The South African fly-half Quniton Crock made his statement with a tally of 28 points in Ratmalana with two tries and 9 conversions. The Air force is the only team without a foreign player and they really felt the full blast of that in their first match in the weekend. This year’s Science College captain Prasad Malinga and centre Chathura Gomez made the club rugby debut with the hosts.
Kandy led the half time with 47 – 06 with some good performances by the seniors in the likes of Gayan Weerarathne, Fazil Marija and Sean Wijesinghe finishing with more ‘show’ by Danusha Dayan and Kishore Jehan the bulky prop forward.
The experienced captain Sean Wijesinghe who is also a former Tuskers skipper was pleased with the performance as they played as a unit.
Significant : Kandy three quarters – Anurudda Wilwara – Quniton Crock
Army v CR & FC
The first half played by the soldiers was as good as their new outfit, but they lost all the composure after changing the sides of attack. The new club captain Rohitha Rajapaksa who in fact led the Navy team to triumph last year, had to start the season with a shock defeat by the Longdon place club. Army out played the men in red with a 15 – 03 lead up to half time. However, Imthi Marikkar’s boys showcased great intensity and hunger for victory as they come back strong with a 21 – 15 win and 11 points of which coming from Shanaka Kumara and a try each for Kanchana Ramanayaka and the captain Ashan De Costa.
Captain Rohitha Rajapaksa started in an unfamiliar position of outside half playing up to 60 minutes of the game before he moved into his normal position of inside flanker. Although he had a decent start as first receiver, CR & FC was too good with manipulating the soldier’s ball position and an attacking approach.
The debutant Prince Chamara who was in the junior Tuskers early this year, had a decent start with a difficult conversion and a penalty from almost half way line, but replacement foreign players in the likes of Puppy Farral and Robert Malneek provided a huge impact from the bench for the CR & FC. Army will now face a difficult challenge against Kandy this weekend in their second home fixture at the picturesque Race Course grounds.
Significant : Composure should be for 80 minutes not 40 – Rohitha at fly half – Marikkar’s tactics
Havelocks v Police
The home town derby between Havelock S.C. and Police S.C. was a try fest as Police gave the park club boys a big scare in the first half when they led their good neighbors 28 – 22. The police centre Apisai Naqaliva played an amazing game with a hat-trick of tries in the first half. On the other hand despite the loss for the Police they managed to control the Havies foreign ammo’s quite well.
Havelock’s started very nervously and agile Mithun Hapugoda, Mohamed Sheriff, Shehan Pathirana and captain Muthuthantri catapulted their experience into count in the second half which bought them a convincing 44 – 28 victory at the end.
Dulaj Perera controlled the game fluently with No 10 shirt, after last year’s first choice fly half Niroshan Fernando had to opt-out due to a surgery. Havies will play their big match in week two against the arch rivals CR&FC in Longdon place whilst Police take on the defending champions at Police Park.
Glen Christini Coach of Havelocks speaking to ThePapare.com stated “our lads were panicking in the first half but I’m glad we got away with it today”.
Significant : Apisai Naqaliva – Hold your nerve to win – revelation of Dulaj Perera
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