Kandy face Police test

By Shamseer Jaleel in Kandy

Unbeaten league champions Kandy SC will face a tough test when they confront not only Police SC but also the Colombo climate at the Police Park today.

Kick-off is at 4 pm.

This will be one of the three long journeys the Kandy outfit have to make to Colombo in Round 1 and this game could turn out to be a close affair as the Cops are in flying form, after their shock win against the Air Force outfit last weekend.

Further, Kandy, after losing nearly seven of their seniors this season are hampered with injuries as well.

Their wins at home against the Sailors and Air Force being were close affair and the home team was not up to the expected mark.

For today’s game they will be minus their skipper Damith Dissanayake and Diluksha Dange but will be out till the second round due to knee injuries and the latter could even miss out the entire season.

The outfit will be led by former Kingswoodian and national player Lavanga Perera.

Kandy have an impressive three-quarter line with Nigel Ratwatte, Tharinda Ratwatte, Dhanushka Ranjan, Lavanga Perera and Kavindu Perera with Srinarth Sooriyabandara operating from the base. Their forwards are inexperienced with only Praveen Charles and Yakoob Ali being omnipresent.

Injury to Lasith Atthanagoda’s has left the rest of the forwards a little thin.

Meanwhile, the Cops will heavily depend on Yohan Peiris, Nisala Samadhi, Mohan Wimalarathne and Chanaka Sooriyapperuma to deliver the goods. After an ordinary start they displayed high quality rugby to stun Air Force at Ratmalana last weekend.

Though the Cops are lowly placed at the bottom of the points table, Kandy cannot afford to take them lightly as the upcountry club hasn’t been at their best.

Despite this, Kandy SC remain the only unbeaten side in the League this year while Police lost three of their games winning only against Air Force.

This will incidentally be a battle between cousins, with Fazil Marija coaching Kandy SC and Nilfer Ibrahim overlooking Police SC.

Kandy SC XV: Yakoob Ali, Uchitha Jayasuriya, Praveen Charles, Thilina Bandara, Bawantha Dhanapala, Chathura Soysa, Fawmy Wajid, Wawela Panditha, Srinarth Sooriyabandara, Nigel Ratwatte, Kavindu Perera, Tharinda Ratwatte, Lavanga Perera, Dhanushka Ranjan and Damian Ratwatte

Police SC XV: Amjad Faumy, Rasith Silva, Heshan Fernando, Nisala Samadhi (Capt), Mohan Wimalaratne, Lahiru Thilakratne, Chanaka Sooriyapperuma, Shanaka Harischandra, Prinesh Danushka, Yohan Peiris, Praveen Stephan, Vihanga Fernando, Akash Madushanka, Matheesha Perera and Prince Chamara