Kandy out to continue winning streak
Defending league champions Kandy Sports Club will be all out to continue their winning streak and keep their unbeaten tag intact when they confront seventh-placed CH&FC at Nittawela today. Kick-off is at 4.15 pm.
Kandy will be at full strength when they play at home after nearly six weeks playing in the steamy Colombo conditions.
Their number 8 Buwanaka Udangamuwa will make a welcome return to the side. The former Rajan and outstanding third row forward had an outstanding game against Havies, but was rested for their last game against Air Force.
Kandy SC will miss the services of skipper Nigel Ratwatte who is still recovering from an injury. However, Roshan Weeraratne is back moving scrum half Srinath Sooriyabandara to the pivotal fly half position.
Once again Kandy SC is fortunate in signing with Tarinda Ratwatte, who crossed over from CR&FC and playing excellent rugby both in defence and attack. His form this season has been above average. With Thilina Wijesinghe missing out from the side this year, it will once again give an opportunity to national sevens skipper Dansha Dyan to man the last line of defence.
Meanwhile CH&FC skipper Rohitha Rajapaksa too is nursing an injury and is a doubtful starter. In case he doesn’t play, the leadership role will go to the experienced former national sevens skipper Sudarshana Muthuthanthri. Samuel Maduwantha will move in as fly half. Hirantha Perera, Nishon Perera and Sudam Sooriyarachchi are top class players.
The referee for this game will be Dilum Dheeshana.
Kandy at present are leading the table with 46 points followed by Police SC with 35 points. Kandy are on course to win the league for a record sixth consecutive year. They will have two more Colombo visits for Navy SC and Army SC encounters while rest of their three crunch games will be played at Nittawela against CR&FC, Havies and Police SC.