Air Force and CH will try to break the ‘duck’ at Ratmalana today
Two beaten teams, the Air Force and surprisingly, the CH, will be striving to break their duck when they come up against each other today at Ratmalana. The Airmen gave the champions a run for their money and had levelled the score at 14 all early in the second half. Then it was 19- 21, after which they took the game 28-19.
If the Air Force was somewhat upbeat about that performance, their subsequent 21-19 loss to the Army must have brought them down a peg or two.
The fate of the CH has been very different. They lost their opening game to the CR 23-24. They met the Havies in their second game and the result was similarly agonizing ( 2930). With the strengths of the respective teams being what they are, the CH must be fancying their chances.
The Air Force who ended up at the bottom of the table in 2017/ 18 is led by Lahiru Udayanga. The player who sets the pulse racing is the fly half Jayantha Iddamalgoda. He is here, there and everywhere, always endeavouring to start another move.
Players like Soorya Krishan, Rumesh Ramadas, Rumesh Wasantha and Saraka Werella represent a bit of experience. Krishan pierced the Kandy defence to score a neat try. Hooker Lahiru Udayakumar, lock Thilina Kumar and flanker Rumesh Wasantha went over the line in the second game. It is clear that the players mentioned above can make a difference.
The team is fortunate in that they have some tall, well built players in the second row and also in the back line. Jehan Seelagame, the centre, uses his build to try and crash through the defence.
Iddamalgoda takes the kicks and has made good on many occasions. In Nuan Perera, they can call upon another effective kicker.
The Airmen endeavour to open out the game and play at a fast pace. How their tactics will pan out against a team full of talent, such as the CH, is left to be seen. Whatever the outcome, the spirited play of the Ratmalana side must be appreciated.
With all the talent at their command, one wonders why the CH haven’t got over the line so far. The skipper is a very experienced and skilful player. Yoshitha Rajapaksa has the ability to get the team to play together and be a force. Forwards such as Sarathchandra and Sajith Saranga don’t lack in quality.
The back division is a very good one. Nishon Perera, last year’s Havelocks player and former Patana player Kushan Indunil are the centres. On the wings the CH has Anuradha Herath and speedy talented youngster Nave en Hen akankanamge.
But the most outstanding player upto now has been the talented former Antonian Samuel Maduwantha. He has accumulated 31 points off his own boot (as it were) with his conversions and drop goals. He has a powerful boot and it, generally, is curtains for any opposing team conceding penalties in their half.
But CH is not all about Madusantha. The other players of note can, with a little more effort and commitment, lift the team from the present slump.