Dialog Rugby League week 5: Police rattles CR

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A cracking game of rugby was on display at Longdon place on Saturday where Police proved they can be ruthless beyond expectations.

CR&FC v Police

Things did not go right for CR&FC from the beginning; delay in start due to the match ball lacking the required pressure followed by a doctor not being on the field  resulted in the game being delayed 10 -12 minutes.

Police defense was as secure as the iron bars in a jail cell as they denied CR scoring points despite the hosts having 5 early penalties in the police red zone, a one line out and two scrums.

Somewhere CR lost the basic art of rugby; when you have penalty at the start in the opposite territory you go for the points- 3 points is always better than none. You will find even a team like the mighty All Blacks going for the 3fer against even below ranked teams like Scotland or Italy.

Apisai Nagaliva playing most of the time as the first receiver made a huge impact as he spots the gap between opposite 10 and 12, jams into the space in a flash and off loads.  His territorial kicks and smashing tackles also left the hosts guessing. We spoke about a foreigner playing at 10 in the domestic competition when Quinton Crocker playing as outside half for Kandy.  Police showed how to make it count by Apisai playing at 10 in the attack most of the time despite wearing no 13 shirt and this strategy was masterfully executed by the Coach Douglas Bursil.

 

The above graphic depicts clearly how the Police #8 Felimoni Seru likes to run sideways and finds support of Apisai. In the first try, from a collapsed scrum the referee penalized the Reds; Seru took a quick tap and ran nearly a 30m which Apisai picked up from the ruck which was a meter short and leaped on to the try line. Heshan Gunarathne, Sudam Sooriarach and Samnatha Lakshan trio played a magnificent game along with Hashan Gomes the skipper for the visitors.

Talking about support play, CR captain Ashan De Costa would have been gutted after losing the ball in the try line when he missed a scoring opportunity.  In another move, Gayan Liyanage  with some fancy footwork in the corner saw Costa supporting well to collect his pass and score making up for the missed opportunity.

Apisai playing at 10 probably had Robbie Malneek think about his defensive pattern. Despite scoring a try and good long pass to CR wing, Malneek and Puppy Farral could not make a huge impact due to the organised Police defense.

Nevertheless, Coach Imthi Marikkar will surely go back to the drawing boards after the poor show on their home turf where the set pieces and defensive strategy will need to be looked at.

Talking Points : Apisai as first receiver – Sudam Sooriarachi at wing – CR’s poor defensive pattern

 

Air Force v Havelock’s

For first time in the season foreigners landed at the Ratmalana Air Force grounds from right and left corners of the world as they bought down two Fijians namely Opeti Delana & Vilikesa Koilagi and Garcia Bassaletti fromChile. However, these 3 players made their debut for the air force without even being 24 hours in the island, jetlagged and also without a session of a practice. It was perfect conditions for rugby but there was a strong wind which crossed from left to right throughout the 80 minutes.

In the first half, the hosts attacked with the wind at their backs as fly half Gayantha Iddamalgoda slotted 3 good penalties, one from the 50m range with the help of the wind but was unable to show a kicking game inside their own half where soggy conditions and wind giving extra benefit.

The territorial kicks and testing the opposite full back was not seen much, instead the Air force ran few times inside their own 50m and lost possession.

On the other hand, Havelock’s played according to their game plan and they dominated possession most of the time. The defensive and attacking structure was convincing for their fans and also to the coach Glen Christini. Jason Melder the big lock forward of Havies played a stunning game and scored his first try of the season. The visitors went for the break with a lead of 21 – 09.

Quite surprisingly after the break until the end of the third quarter neither team scored a point and in the last 15 minutes 31 points were scored – 24 to Havelock’s and 07 for the hosts. Sandun Herath was on song as he made few good yards with the ball in hand and he was enticed to take quick tap at the penalties too. Shehan Pathirana another Tusker was rock solid, he read the game well especially his intercepted try was astounding.  Sheriff Mohamed who replaced Rehan Thyagarajah also influenced for a try with his sparkling footwork’s and Mithun Hapugoda scored two well-deserved tries.

Havelock’s line out went a bit sloppy in the second half and most hilariously both teams made frequent knock -ons on the greasy ball after the advantage had been played-off. Despite a few big names of Havelocks moving to Navy, the young brigade in the pink made a strong statement. Most amazingly the Havies have played 5 matches and they have gained 5 bonus points which is remarkable including two losing bonus points.

Talking Points : Air Force Foreign Brigade – Havelock’s defense/attack structure – 5 tries in last quarter

 

Navy v CH&FC

Defending Champions after a disappointing loss in the week in their home game against Kandy took CH&FC in muddy conditions. It was 17 – 03 for the hosts at lemons. CH really showed great courage to bounce back in the second half with their young outfit defending the big Sailors. The score in the second half was only 7-5 in favor of Navy therefore as a result Bilal Yousuf’s boys are must be pleased particularly after their performance after half-time.  Yousuf also stated at the end of the match “our guys played exceptionally well in the 2nd half and the result could have been different if they played the same way in the 1st half. They continue to improve day by day”.

Nevertheless, it was the full time score which will count at the end of the day but Navy not getting a bonus point means will find it will get difficult in the latter stage of the league. Kandy tops the ladder with a total points of 22 and Navy trail by 1 point. Chanaka Chandimal the first choice no10 for Navy has back after his ankle injury which occurred during the very first match against Sharks. Now this is something Coach Leonard De Zilva will be delighted about  due to the fact Srinath Sooriyabandara (Soori)playing at 10 as an injury cover did not go well to plan.

 

Navy dominated the scrums but the lineouts went astray a few times which is not a good sign for the defending champions, because this was an issue against Kandy as well as against CR. Perhaps Sharo Fernando and Hasitha Perera’s absence affected the lineouts.Sailors newest recruitment from Wellington, New Zealand, Dean Warren Brunsdon and Samoan center-three quarter Lapana Makapelu played their part.

At one stage the game went dull and it also became a bit of a kicking match as both teams went into territorial kicking which is the right thing according to the conditions but knock-ons were too many and not what the champs would have wanted.

Talking Points : Navy missed bonus point – Chanaka recovered – CH second half effort

 

Sharks v Kandy

Kandy had 4 out of 5 away games so far and last weekend they went down south to take on the Hambanthota Sharks. It has been a bit of a doggy season for Kandy as they lost to Army after 11 years in week two and they ricochet against Navy at Welisara winning after 5 years.  They almost gave their ardent fans a panic attack against Havelock’s in week 3 where they edge passed with a try from Anurudda Wilwara in last 20 seconds of play to win an enthralling match 25 -24.

Last week Johan Taylor Kandy coach opted to rest some of the senior players- veteran Fazil Marija, Pradeep Liyanage, Gayan Weerarathne and Saliya Kumara and tested the depth in the squad with the likes of Arshad Jamaldeen, Gayan Jayawardena  and Thilina Wijesinghe etc ..34 – 21 win is not so convincing against the Sharks but Kandy should be contend with the bonus point and lead on the table.

Christopher Cloete the hat-trick hero has been outstanding until now. It created an issue for rugby fraternity whether playing a foreigner in no7 will be the right thing early in the season? Also playing a foreigner at 10 was a question mark, with Quinton Crocker playing as outside half. Cloete now leads the highest try scoring list with a tally of 7 tries in 5 games. Oscar Ouma the Kenyan superstar coming in for Kandy provided some strength to their defense. The hill country team is also on the process to sign the Tongan Koto Pongi, who plays club rugby for Honda Rugby Club in Japan to debut in Sri Lanka from the second round.

Sharks on the other hand displayed a much better performance probably the best of them so far. Tuskers Fiji flavor Joseph Dunn and Wagawulagi Emori are the two scuba divers for the sharks. Rajitha Samaranayak gave his 100% in the field also claimed a try to his name. This weekend it will be an even-stevens game for Sharks as they take on CH&FC on Sunday.

Talking Points : Cloete leads try list – Tested depth in Kandy squad – Sharks improving attack