The weather conditions should be ideal for rugby in Kandy as the home team and the eager home crowd is waiting to avenge their teams unexpected defeat at the hands of the Air Force SC in the first round at Ratmalana when the teams met previously.
Kandy are preparing precisely for today’s game to maintain their title hopes. The Air Force too after their brilliant performance last weekend against Havelock SC will also try to maintain their confidence and superiority for an even battle. For Kandy today it will be vital to win with a big margin..
In the second round, Kandy are undefeated, beating the Army ,CR & FC, Navy and Police Meanwhile, the Airmen have recorded one win against Police. For today’s game both teams will be out with their strongest possible lineups to battle at Nittawela as Kandy are unconquered at their home venue.
The Airmen will no doubt play with their forwards to restrict the speedy Kandyans.
The Airmen produced some fine moves against the Policemen to win the game, but today it is going to be a different ball game for the Airmen, who will have to be quick to put their act together.
Kandy should certainly dominate as their defense has improved, and their speedy three quarters can outwit their opposite numbers. A win in this game will enable Kandy SC to top the points table, having comfortably beaten four clubs in the second round this season. Kandy SC seems arguably the better team on paper.
The Airmen have done well sparodically throughout the season, they have largely adopted the same game plan, relying on deep kicking and putting pressure in the defensive line and forcing the opponents to play from the deep often driving themselves back while on attack. When the Airmen try to counter attack, it often ends with disaster creating opportunities a plenty for the opposition.
The squads:
KandySports Club - Ganuka Dissanayake, Damith Dissanayake, YakoobAli, Piyumal Manchanayake, Kishore Jehan, Dimthri Wijetunge, Shuhuru Anthony, Thanrindu Chathuranga, Shehan Pathirane, Sashika Jayawardene, Heshan Kalhara, Buwaneka Udangamuwa, Roshan Weerarthne (Captain, subject to fitness)) , Fazil Marija (Acting Captain) ,Arshad Jamaladeen, Nigel Ratwate, Vishvamthira Jayasinghe, Gayan Weerarthne, Danushka Ranjan, Richard Darmapala,Thilina Wijasinghe. and Gayan Ratnayake
Air Force Sports Club - Gayantha Iddamalgoda (Captain) Amal Dassanayake, Dinesh Weeraratne, Jude Ranasinghe, Pandula Bandara, Saumya Silva, Sampath Wickremasinghe, Prasanna Zoysa, Gayan Heenkenda, Pushpakumara Samarahewa, Donald Frank, Asanka Perera, Lahiru Weerasinghe, Rumesh Wasantha, Gayan Anuradha, Nadishka Perera, Suranga Arunashantha, Nalin Sirisena, Charith Seneviratne, Shaminda Udayakumara, Ranuka Medagedera, Buddhika Jayasinghe, Isuru Jayaratne, Suriya Krishan, Jero Dhananjaya, Kaushal Manuppriya, Ruwan Perera, Ranil Medagedera, Parakrama Ratnayake, Prasad Silva, Chathura Gomes and Lahiru Udayanga, Lochana Ekanayake,Thilina Bandara, Pabasara Hewage, Tuan Jaleel and Ashok Wijekumar. Referee- Aruna Rankothge