The second round action intensifies in the Dialog Rugby League with the top three teams continue to be in contention for elusive Dialog Rugby League title.
With one point separating Kandy Sports Club from the top two teams Havelocks and Navy, it will be an tight battle for the teams as they fight for supremacy in the 9th week of the league.
The Breakdown – Navy v Police with a ding dong battle
The meeting of the age-old rivals, the CR & FC vs Kandy SC encounter has always had a special place in the rugby league, this time around Kandy Sports Club will be looking to take the important points from their away fixture.
Havelock SC vs Police SC
Date: 6th January 2017
Time: 6.30pm
Venue: Havelock Park
Round 1 Result: Havelock SC 37 – Police SC 12 Played at Police Park
Table leaders Havelock Sports Club were on a roll with their try-scoring spree against CH & FC last week and should be in the right mentality to counter the better sides. Leading the league on points difference, Havelock will surely look to take the winning points and possibly clinch the bonus point as well.
WATCH LIVE: Havelock SC v Police SC – Dialog Rugby 16/17
Police pulled out their best performance of the season last week against Navy Sports Club but were unfortunate to finish up on the losing side. Police gave their best and it is an indication of better things to come in the coming weeks.
Reeza Raffaideen Moving from the usual wing-three quarter position to center last week against Navy, the schoolboy player Reeza Raffaideen did justice to the playing position and he along with Sandesh Jayawickrema will eye more game time to get in shape to the position
Udara Gayan The try scorer for Police last week, Udara Gayan will be another important player for the Cops when it comes to countering the hefty Havelock forwards.
Dulaj Perera took an unassailable lead after last week scoring two tries and converting ten of the tries making it 30 in total to top the points table. The cops should be an interesting challenge for Perera playing under home conditions.
Havelock’s Dushmantha Priyadarshana will also need to rally his troops in the front row for the Police challenge along with Prasath Madushan and Jason Melder.
CR & FC vs Kandy SC
Date: 7th January 2017
Time: 3.50pm
Venue: Longdon Place
Round 1 Result: Kandy 53 – CR & FC 29 Played at Nittawela
The first round encounter was an easy win for the Kandyans at Nittawela who ran circles around a helpless CR & FC team to win 53-29 but away from the fortress, the defending champions are vulnerable.
WATCH LIVE: CR&FC v Kandy SC – Dialog Rugby 16/17
Kandy has not had successful away encounter this season, losing against Air Force in Ratmalana and Navy in Welisara. This will be a tester for the Kandy side who are gradually regaining their strengths back. This match will be important for Kandy to stay in title contention while CR & FC will harp on getting the important match points to have a decent finish.
The return of Nigel Ratwatte was a valuable value addition to the side at fly-half in the absence of regular skipper Fazil Marija. Last week’s Army game would have given the adequate preparation time for the important weeks ahead.
Heshan Kalhara’s return in the Kandy jersey after the injury was the highlight last week as his presence in the starting XV made the difference. It was Kalhara who was the saviour for Kandy in last year’s away encounter with CR & FC scoring the match winner in the dying minutes.
CR’s speedster Sashan Mohamed will be required to run his lines and be on top ahead of the Kandy counterparts. Sashan has been in good form after a successful outing in the 1st match of the 2nd round.
Banuka Nanayakkara Countering a tough Kandy three quarter line will be a challenging thought for any team and the addition of Banuka in the three quarter line will be a treasured by CR & FC
Navy SC vs Air Force SC
Date: 7th January 2017
Time: 3.50pm
Venue: Welisara
Round 1 Result: Navy 22 – Air Force 08 Played at Ratmalana
The Sailors should find the Airmen an easier outing before they head out for the important weeks. Navy has always been strong in their home conditions at Welisara and Air Force will have to put up their ‘A’ game if they want a win. Currently placed 5th in the points table with 4 wins, Air Force will need a win this week if they have any intentions for a podium finish.
Danushka Gertha Perera was instrumental last week against the Policemen scoring an all-important try and giving his efforts in the breakdown. He should be looking to continue his good form coming this week.
Danushka Gertha Perera was instrumental last week against the Policemen scoring an all-important try and giving his efforts in the breakdown. He should be looking to continue his good form coming this week.
A player who is gradually making his presence felt will be Saliya Handapangoda. Making his re-entry to the Navy side, Handapangoda has contributed to creating opportunities pairing well with his younger counterpart Buddhima Priyarathana.
Charith Seneviratne will need to step up in his game to counter the Navy attacking three-quarters.
The second row Thilina Bandara will be a player to watch out for in the Air Force team. He was instrumental in the line outs with his build and has been giving a hard time for the opposition jumpers.
Army SC vs CH & FC
Date: 8th January 2017
Time: 4pm
Venue: Diyagama Grounds
Round 1 Result: Army 39 – CH & FC 12 Played at Racecourse
For the first time this season, Army will host CH & FC at their home ground back in Diyagama. Despite the hard fought effort at Nittawela, Kandy was too much of heat for the soldiers to handle. CH & FC should be an easy tussle for Army who is yearning for the match points.
Skipper Manoj Silva was on point in the Kandy game last week with his sturdy runs that also allowed him to score a try at Nittawela and will look at doing more of that this week.
Thusith Senanayake will be the other prospect in the Army side to look out for having had a somewhat successful outing in Nittawela.
CH & FC’s Vishva Deeneth has now taken up the boot for the side and has been kicking the penalties his side receives to get the consolation points the team earns and he will look to do the same this coming week.
It has always been a lone survivor battle for the Kasun Srinath and his endeavouring effort keeps the CH side to continue to strive despite the outcome.
