RUGBY FIREWORKS IN STORE AT NITTAWELA ON SUNDAY
Second-from-bottom Air Force SC will host Police SC in the first match of week four in the Dialog Rugby League at the Air Force grounds in Ratmalana today, arguably an undercard fight before the heavyweight clash between title frontrunners Kandy SC and Navy SC on Sunday.
Following defeat in their campaign opener against Navy SC, Air Force fought back well in the second week to draw with new-entrants Hambantota Sharks, before losing to Havelock SC last week.
They will face a Police team that was fortuitous in being awarded its first win against the Hambantota Sharks last week, following bad weather which saw the game stalling early and then being called off, their first points since the bonus point defeat at the hands of Army SC in their opening game.
Sunday’s game between Kandy SC and Navy SC, though too early in the season to be tagged a title-deciding game, will be a tussle for breathing space at the top of the table with the losers likely to feel a little extra pressure for the rest of the season.
Kandy SC, with a host of national talent at its disposal, have benefitted from its two expatriate players Fly half Andrew Porter and Number 8 Fa’atonu Fili, who have added flair, creativity and reliability to a Kandy team looking to usurp Havelock SC, the defending league champions.
An antagonist for the hosts will be Navy’s fullback Nuwan Hettiarachchi who only last year played for the Kandy team, before rejoining the Sailors, probably unable to seal a place for himself in a talented Kandy SC team. Havelock SC, who are chasing the front-runners and are a game behind after their opening fixture against the Sharks was postponed due to faulty lights at Havelock Park, will entertain CR & FC tomorrow at Havelock Park, looking to stay within touching distance of the leaders, and possibly move into first place, albeit momentarily, with a big win.
Upcountry Lions, who have had a disappointing start to the season, falling to a 1-2 record following defeats to Army and Navy, will host a just as lacklustre Sharks team, who despite substantial backing have failed to produce results, losing two and drawing one so far this season.
The match will be placed at Nawalapitiya tomorrow.
Surprise-package Army SC meanwhile will look to build on their solid start to the season, when they host down-trodden CH & FC in their match on Sunday at Diyagama, a tricky destination for visiting teams, with Upcountry Lions and Police SC having already lost there.
Army’s resurgence has been an interesting plot-line and their early success has only been tainted by defeat to Kandy SC last Sunday, whom they matched up against bravely before going down 38-25.