Meet the Rugby clubs

Air Force will provide the shocks this year

A team which has once again emerged as a force to be reckoned with in the club rugby scene is the Sri Lanka Air Force.

Last week the Airmen scored a superb 27-3 win over the more fancied Navy having gone down fighting to the formidable CH and FC by 15-29 in their first outing. They also clinched the Plate Championship in the under 24 Rugby Sevens.

Air Force's rugby resurgence began two years ago when under the leadership of Sanjaya Fernando they won seven matches out of 14 in the "A" Division League and emerged runners-up of the SLRFU Plate Championship. Last year they clinched the Plate Trophy at the club rugby sevens and in the SLRFU League Tournament including a sensational win over Havelocks.

This year Sanjaya Fernando has been entrusted with the task of coaching the Airmen and has moulded them into a fighting outfit capable of creating upsets.

The Sri Lanka Air Force was a force to be reckoned with in the 1970's and 1980's and also provided the Sri Lanka team with several outstanding ruggerites but unfortunately their rugby standard declined when they withdrew from competitive rugby after the second North East War broke out in June 1990.

Air Force entered the "A" Division rugby arena in 1972 and reached great heights within four years. In 1975 the Airmen led by burly Shanthi Mendis emerged runners-up of the "A" Division League Tournament by winning 12 matches out of 16 and also entered the Clifford Cup final before losing to Army by a whisker (3-4). Two years later the Airmen led by scrum half Ronald Rodrigo ended up as runners-up of the "A" Division League (Clifford Cup) to Havelocks with the deciding match ending in a three-all draw.

Air Force rugby's golden year was 1986 when under the leadership of full back Lakshman Caldera, the Airmen clinched club rugby's richest prize-the Clifford Cup.

The Airmen scored a smashing 44-10 win over Navy in the quarter-finals and stormed into the Clifford Cup final with a 8-4 win over CH and FC in the semi-final with burly flanker Harsha Fernando scoring the match winning try in extra time after the scores stood 4-all at full time.

In the final the Airmen came up with a stupendous performance to beat the mighty Sri Lanka Police by 10 points to 8. Lock forward Lofty Perera (Jnr) scored the solitary try for the Airmen while fly half Tony Wimalasuriya fired across two penalties helping the Airmen to savour their greatest moment on the rugby field.

This year Air Force will be led by prop forward Saumya Silva who is a tireless player in the loose. The duo battling for the other prop forward's berth are experienced campaigners Kosala Ranasinghe and Ruwan Seneviratne.

The hookers berth will be filled by S. Samarahewa. Lanky Pradeep Kurukulasuriya is assured of one lock forwards berth while the other position will be fought out between Prasanna Soysa and Lasantha Bandara.

Suranga Arunashantha (who played on the wing last year) has shifted to the third row and will play as a flanker with the other position being filled by Pathum Ediriweera. Tharaka Chandimal a fine attacking player and a fierce tackler will be the number eight.

Dhammika Medagedera will operate from the base of the scrum with Ajit Herath making a determined bid to out him. Sajith Bandara who has stood oust with his fine kicks to touch and excellent place-kicking will occupy the pivotal fly half position. Nalin Sirisena is the stand-by for this position.

Two hard runners and solid tacklers national poolist Ruchika Ganwarage and Mohamed Shabri will be the two centres. That powerful runner Rohan Fernando will occupy one wing while the duo fighting it out for the other berth are Mohan Thiroshana and Eranda Silva.

The last line of defence will be manned by Krishan Gunaratne who faces a strong challenge from Priyantha Perera.

The Chairman of Air Force rugby Air Vice Marshal Channa Gunaratne and Secretary Group Captain Saranath Rambukwella are giving their maximum support to coach Squadron Leader Sanjaya Fernando and the airmen should give of their best this season. (R.S.)