The 2019 Rugby season has its own relentless ability to shock and confuse the club faithful in Sri.
Much rhetoric and yards about defending champions Kandy, and the team composition, attitude, work ethic, belief discipline and professionalism.
Consistent results are etched in stone and stand as impressive pillars for the hill capital foundation.
Kandy have dominated rugby over the last decade, beating everyone in all formats, and carved themselves a reputation for the Big W ... even when playing badly.
The up country, low country divide still a massive issue of much contention … and vibrant debate.
The for ...and against... believers jealously guarding their territory with no intentions to relinquish their positions....
The tunnel… the Kaduganawa rock being bored through, essentially a remarkable effort of inspiring British engineering that opened access to the hill country. The road and railway, perhaps the greatest contribution of our colonial inheritance....fully operational and shipshape, as they say.
Our resident experts will be a touch nervous and, rather hesitant about openly broadcasting their pundit inclinations.
Especially after Army shocking themselves and Kandy up in Nittawela cauldron ...ending a 30 game winning streak and giving other clubs an almost intravenous boost of confidence to confront the champions.
Naturally many will begrudgingly admit to the fact, that it’s been 30 matches ...since they came 2nd, and the opportunity for another team to raise their jars in celebration.
Remarkably that record will take some beating...and undoubtedly stand as a testament to all who played and the management up there.
For a while it was starting to look like the Lions certainly had found their own wizard...Getafix plus cauldrons of magic potion to last plenty of injury managed seasons.
Shadows of Heshan Kalhara looking Obelix like ...and hungry for work, with captain Ritchie’s new look ...shades of Asterix perhaps. Udangamuwa adding power and muscle, Pathirana and Soyuru Anthony packing in workrate and welcome skills.
All things considered......form, quality, fitness, skills, balance, reaction time under pressure, vision, strategy, job description, hunger, workrate, attitude, support, endurance, captaincy, injuries, players wellness, nutrition and vitamins...... the alphabet and support structure of performance... the ideal.
Facts are far more interesting and compulsive than fiction?
DIALOG LEAGUE CUP 2019....
Kandy drop to 2nd in the rankings… while CH at no. 3 pull off a famous pressure victory in Colombo, outplaying a fitter Lions especially in the loose. Set play pretty much to form ...with scrums and line outs...hard graft and total effort.
For CH ...stand in captain Rohitha, wingers Herath and Nishon, Hirantha and Giouda… had a splendid 80minutes.
Kandy’s experience shows that unique ability to punish mistakes. But it was CH’s Sam Maduwantha that really stepped into his zone. He not only kicked intelligently but also scored a critical try that kept Kandy x 2 goal lengths away......great support too.
150points and much more to come from the growing efficiency of Sam Maduwantha…who might well get 200+ points this year, just in his 2nd first class season for Maitland Crescent, after his St Anthony’s rugby qualification.
Much pride to the games process up at St Anthony’s and coaches who graded Sam early balance and kicking skills. CH&FC 33-17 Kandy.
Now opportunity on a silver platter for Martis and Havelock to storm past Kandy in Colombo.... as the best shot to own the Dialog league cup. The Havies have kept their nose to the ground and got the job done.
They are playing well as team and even better under pressure...a simple concept of working hard for each other for the entire 80mins.
As a direct result their performance stats indicate efficiency at the breakdowns and particularly effective rucking and forward power from the likes of Sharo Rambo Fernando...leading the charge for the park crowds to go absolutely mad.
Kandy have to play both CR in Colombo 4pm Longden Place and Havelocks under lights at the park ....
Can Kandy claw back their title and win their reputation back?
Or will CH’s clinical 33 points dismantling last Saturday provide a pressure keg blueprint for CR and Havies to exploit the Lions soft underbelly and put them to the sword?
Ipso facto ...explosive Dialog weekends not for the weak hearted or soft spoken among us rugby types.
Havies or Kandy can definitely win the Cup… but lightning could strike for CH to assert their class and be surgically clinical to get that cup to Maitland Crescent.
1 Havelocks v 4 CR
2 Kandy v 3 CH.
This is what the super round line up looks like 1 vs 4 and 2 vs 3.
Mighty is the team that maintains efficiency, workrate and a hunger for that trophy.
Belief and pride the rocket fuel formula to turbo charge the engine and conquer.
Bula bula the islanders rugby hearts under pressure but stronger to finish the battle and March home triumphant.
Cheers Sri!
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