Rugby Review by Mike Andree
Another inter club ‘Caltex’ league rugby season kicked off last Friday at Maitland Crescent, where defending champs CH&FC played host to debutantes Kandy Youth Sports Club.

The debutantes, many of them from Kandy Sports Club, where their duty was to mainly warm the reserves’ bench, gave off a gutsy display despite their inexperience in the big league.

CH&FC’s abundant experience and Kandy Youth’s lack of exposure showed as clear as daylight. But, the manner in which the latter restricted the former and made them sweat for their four tries, gave a promise of better things to come, as time goes by, for Kandy Youth. They displayed an abundance of guts as they tackled with gusto and at times made their hosts wonder what hit them.

Kandy Youth, although beaten were far from disgraced. Given more exposure and time to settle down in the big league, they are bound to be a team to reckon with.

This game was also an eye-opener for the CH. If they are to successfully defend the title, they would need to forget about under estimating their opponents, whoever they may be.

On Sunday, former league champions and Knock out title holders Kandy SC stormed through Air Force to dump 10 tries in a 65 - 10 win, at the SLAF Base grounds in Katunayake.

The hard and dry underfoot conditions were somewhat of a drawback for the Kandyans, who are more at home on a soft surface. This and some resolute tackling by the Airmen stopped them going on a rampage.

The Airmen showed plenty of guts and determination, but were lacking in knowledge of the finer points of the game. Their forwards worked tirelessly to hold the powerful Kandyan ‘eight’ and at times take control of the proceedings up front, but all this was of no avail as their three quarters were bunched together or in a completely disorganized state, which made running the ball, against the fast moving Kandyans, an impossible task.

Former CR&FC, CH&FC, Kandy SC and Sri Lanka flanker and skipper Priyantha Ekanayake, now a national rugby Selector, was of the opinion that given time and with a bit more polishing up of their style of play, Air Force would be a team to reckon with.

The Airmen have what it takes to produce a winning team, but lack the all important ingredients such as co-ordination and imagination.

Kandy SC’s players would do well to refrain from hesitating when in possession and in scoring proximity. On a couple of occasions their players were seen crossing the line and wondering whether to touch down or not, At other times they were noted looking around before taking off with the ball.

Meanwhile, on the same day at Galle Face, Police registered what could be the first shock of the season. Many could not believe that Police had beaten Army, who were considered the raging favourites to win this game and give the top clubs in the league a good run during the season.

On Saturday at Longdon Place, the other debutantes in the big league, Old Zahirians received a fiery baptism at the hands of CR&FC. And according to reports they simply had nothing to offer by way of resistance. However, this should not be held against them as it is obvious that they were overawed playing against a side that has everything it takes to lay claim for the title.

At Welisara on the same day, Navy gave signs that they were not a side to be trifled with as they gave the Havelocks a hectic time in defeat and almost threatened to upset the apple cart.