Navy host red-hot Kandy

Navy Sports Club are set for their toughest home game of the inter-club rugby league tournament when they host the defending champions Kandy Sports Club at Welisara tomorrow (5).

Kandy, having destroyed CH&FC 39-03 at Nittawela last week, will be eyeing another win against the Sailors, keeping them at the top of the points table.

Former Trinity College captain Tarinda Ratwatte starred for Kandy last week having bagged a hat trick in addition to the points he scored off his boot and he will certainly be the key player for them going into this crucial game while scrum half Srinath Sooriyabandara also showed his class with a cracking brace, once again reminding the sport’s administrators the poor decision they made leaving out all the Kandy players from the Sri Lanka Sevens team which toured to Dubai only to be absolutely humiliated.

Navy on the other hand does have a reasonable squad. Although they lost their first game to Havelock Sports Club (21-05), they did bounce back in style last week with a win against Police Sports Club (12-00). Although they have almost zero chance of beating Kandy on paper, they should take inspiration from their famous home win against the league leaders seven years ago at this very venue.

Meanwhile, arguably one of the weakest ever CR&FC teams will host CH&FC in another league encounter at Longden Place tomorrow.

Although CH were humiliated in Nittawela last week, they should be able to down the Red Shirts in this fixture. CR were beaten by Air Force in their last game having been involved in a draw with Army SC on the opening day.

CH, though possess a brilliant squad especially having snapped up half of the CR squad, almost always find a way to lose important games; mainly fielding one or two rugby players who by no means are good enough to play top division rugby. The team from the Longden Place would hope it would be the case this time around.