Kandy favoured to down Air Force today
Kandy SC had an early blip on the radar when, quite inexplicably, the soldiers brought them crashing down to earth. Ever since, life seemed to be a bed of roses for the Nittawela Club until, a fighting CR&FC outfit came from behind (20-27) in the dying minutes to salvage a draw.
That try by Robbie Malneek, and the conversion in a pressure-cooker situation by Kanchana Ramanayake (ironically, a player with a Kandy background) could be of momentous significance if the champion Kandy SC team find themselves up-ended by another club in the remaining weeks.
Today, though, that prospect seems unlikely. Air Force, playing minus foreign players, predictably started the season as one of the shipping-boys. To the credit of the players, by dint of application and hard-work, they have turned themselves into a fighting unit. Last week, they were blitzed by the Navy. Even though they conceded 40 points, the Air Force was themselves able to collect 20 points. That statistic achieved against one of the best teams in the tournament should give them fresh hope.
Air Force led by lock forward Prasanna Soysa, have some competent players such as Chanith Seneviratne, Flanker Jero Dhananjaya, Fly half Nuwan Perera, Amila Bandara and Centre Suriya Krishan. Whipped by a big margin in the initial round, Air Force would do well to harry and hustle Kandy and force a few mistakes from them. That done, Nuwan Perera, the Kicker, could come in handy.
Kandy SC has to get on the winning track once more. Winning and winning big is the name of the game, with the weeks running out. There is no question of talent. Kandy has a superfluity of that commodity. Take the talented back division spear headed by Manja. Players such as Gayan Weeraratne, Lavanga Perera, Anuruddha Wilwara and Dhnushka Dayan will run all evening, given a touch of the ball.
A happy and contented skipper Sean Wijesinghe brings his experience to bear and steadies the ship when the necessity arises. Sashika Jayawardena is having a good season. Competent, rather than brilliant, sums up the Kandy forwards.
Now to the players that add the extra pep and zip to the side. Top of the pops is Chris Cloete who must surely be among the leading try scorers. His defensive work is not to be faulted either. Oscar Ouman goes about his task quietly, yet effectively. One of the new arrivals, the Tongan Pongi, who plays as centre, has been outstanding. The latest signing is a South African, Marshall, who doubles up as flanker and number eight.
Over the last couple of seasons, Kandy’s choice of foreign players was not quite spot on. This time, though, there can be no complaints. Chairman of the Selection Committee, Lasantha Wijesuriya is overjoyed that their picks have turned up trumps. “This time round, we have got some very professional players” he enthuses.
One presumes that coach Johann Taylor has assembled that talent well. Champions for long, Kandy was knocked off their perch over the last couple of seasons. At this point, they have got the bit between their teeth and are determined to restore the status quo.