By Shamseer Jaleel

Defending league champions Kandy Sports Club will face one of their most difficult hurdles in retaining their league title this season when they confront the centenary-year celebrating CR&FC at Longdon Place on December 17.

This blockbuster first round encounter is expected to attract a large crowd out of the four games in week two. Kandy Sports Club were once again unstoppable at Nittawela, in their season opener against Army SC, despite missing many big names.

Playing in Colombo has always been difficult for the team from the Central Hills, and they will need to quickly settle and pile up the scores. Kandy SC lost Buddhima Piyaratna, Buwanaka Udangamuwa, Jason Dissanayake and Roshan Weeraratne but their replacements are equally good with a young and energetic set of players.

They have an impressive three-quarter line up including Lavanga Perera, Kavindu Perera, Tharinda Ratwatte, Nigel Ratwatte, Srinarth Sooriyabandara and young Dinal Ekanayake.

Danushka Ranjan is expected to return for this game after missing out several seasons of rugby.

Kandy SC also possess a young and dynamic forward line, led by Damith Dissanayake, Chathuranga Soysa, Tharindu Chathuranga and Lasith Attanagoda who are all equally fast as their three quarters.

Tharinda Ratwatte will need to be accurate in his kicking duties as this could be vital. In the Army game he missed five out of eight attempts at goal. Meanwhile the Red Shirts too possess a quality outfit.

Led by Kavindu de Costa, CR’s Lahiru Pavithra, Vageesha Weerasinghe, Lasindu Ishan, Thenuka Nannayakkara, Chathura Seneviratne, Supun Warunakulasuriya can all be class acts on their day. They have recruited two of the former Kandy SC players Soyuru Anthony and Ashan Darling to their squad.

CR will be all out to prove a point as this year they are celebrating their centenary year. They already enjoyed a big scalp when they edged out Havelock SC 23-21 in their opener. The difference between the two teams could be the kicking ability between Tharinda Ratwatte (Kandy SC) and Thenuka Nanayakkara (CR).

The Red shirts also have former Kingswood and Navy SC player Chathura Seneviratne, who is not only good in his kick at goal but also to cover the territory with long range touch kicks. The game will be handled by former Nugawela Central player Ishanka Abeykoon.

Kandy SC - Lasith Attanagoda, Damith Dissanayake (Capt), Milan Weerasinghe, Heshan Silva, Thilina Bandara, Tharindu Chathuranga, Chathura Soysa, Sanushka Abeywickrema, Srinarth Sooriyabandara, Nigel Ratwatte, Dinal Ekanayake, Tharinda Ratwatte, Lavanga Perera, Kavindu Perera, Suganga Tennakoon, Malith Wijesundera, Dhanushka Ranjan, Uchitha Jayasuriya, Praveen Charles, Wajid Fawmy, Bawantha Dhanapala, Lakshitha Ranaweera, Ohan Perera and Famin Ratwatte

CR&FC - Ashan Darling, Kaveen Vimukthi, Lahiru Pavithra, Soyuru Anthony, Raveen de Silva, Shehan Kalaniyagoda, Vageesha Weerasinghe, Lasindu Ishan, Kavindu de Costa (Capt), Thenuka Nanayakkara, Kalindu Nandila, Manilka Ruberu, Chathura Seneviratne, Gemunu Chethiya, Zubair Doray, Dilshan Jayah, Senura Perera, Supun Warunakulasuriya, Gayan Dilshan, Imanka Ariyapala, Ruchira Ekanayake and Eranga Hehsan. Referee- Ishanka Abeykoon.