After two rounds, 13 weeks and 52 games, the Dialog Rugby League for 2017/18 comes to its final week with four teams battling it out for the 2nd and 3rd positions.
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The league that kicked off in November, saw a clear contender for the title with defending champions, Kandy showcasing that they were worthy of the title throughout the season.
However the fight for the 2nd and 3rd places are still open as we proceed to the 14th week. Havelock Sports Club, Navy Sports Club, CR & FC and CH & FC, still have a chance of getting a podium finish if the final fixtures goes in their favour.
The points table at the end of the 13th week is a follows:
We at ThePapare.com devised the possible outcomes for the four clubs if they end up victorious in the final week.
Havelock Sports Club
After a disappointing draw against Police Sports Club and a loss to CR & FC at home, the Havelock Park club is in a vulnerable position with their second place under clear threat.
The only manner in which Havies could hold on to that second podium finish, is if they manage to win their final game in Kandy. That would see them finish with 55 (50+55) league points in total.
But based on their 1st round fixture that finished 20-9 in favour of Kandy and taking to consideration that no team has been able to win in the hill-capital since 2015, the possibilities of the visitors pulling off a win is highly unlikely.
The Pink jerseys will otherwise remain in the 2nd spot if Navy Sports Club and CH & FC do not manage to win in their final week.
Navy Sports Club
This week’s Navy-Havies clash acted a semi-final for the Dialog Rugby League and had the Sailors’ emerged victorious, the second place position would have been theirs with a week to go.
However, the bonus point loss will see 47 points under their name in total and a win against the last placed team Air Force in the final week will see the team elevated to 52 points guaranteeing the 2nd place.
If they managed to finish second, it would be their best finish in the past three seasons.
A loss in the final week will have dire consequences for the team and will result in them pushed down to 4th place.
After finishing 3rd at end of the 1st round, Army has been disappointing in the next six games with no win recorded
CH & FC
The boys from Maitland Place have been the turnaround team this Dialog Rugby League. A facelift for the team with the new management saw them playing competitive rugby, after a lapse of two seasons, in which they finished at the bottom of the table.
Registering their first win during the third week of the league against CR & FC, the Gymkhana Club has a rare mathematical chance of finishing second while a third-place finish is a realistic take.
Provided Navy Sports Club lose to Air Force SC in the final week and Havelock SC don’t get a win, a bonus point win will take CH & FC to second place (45+5+1=51).
However, CH will need to play their hearts out for a bonus point win against CR & FC provided that Havelock Sports don’t end up winning in Kandy (or lose with a bonus point), they will be elevated to 3rd.
The 1st round fixture saw CH & FC winning against CR & FC 19-12
CR & FC
The red shirts from Longdon Place haven’t really shown their net worth this club rugby season, despite having a talented squad. The win against Havelock during the 12th week saw CR & FC playing to full potential staging a comeback in the second half.
There is only one probable chance by which the Longdon Place lads can take 3rd place. With 42 league points, a bonus point win against CH & FC will make their total 48 (5+1). The podium finish, however, will be guaranteed only if the other teams, Havelock SC & Navy SC don’t manage to register wins.
It will be an exciting 14th week in the Dialog Rugby League with three games scheduled for 9th February Friday and the final game to be kicked off in Nittawela on Sunday.
See who are the Top Try and Point Scorers: All time Try & Points scorers
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