Meet the rugby clubs

CH and FC field a formidable side

The Colombo Hockey and Football Club has been in the forefront of club rugby but last year they failed to live upto expectations and finished third in the Caltex 'A' Division League tournament and also withdrew from the Clifford cup knock-out tournament. But this year they will go all out to clinch the Caltex 'A' Division League Title which has eluded them for the last four years.

Two years ago the lads from Maitland Crescent had a marvellous season. They emerged runners-up to Kandy SC in the 2003 Caltex 'A' Division League winning 13 matches out of 15 losing one match to Kandy SC at Nittawela and were also held to a 25-all draw by Havelocks.

They came up with a stupendous performance to beat the mighty Kandy SC by 36-20 in the return match at Maitland Crescent. They also beat the formidable Army team by the staggering margin of 69-17 with 'man mountain' Fred Moe scoring four tries. The lads from Maitland Crescent also entered the Clifford Cup final before losing to Kandy SC (20-36) in the final.

However, the five year period between 1990 to 1994 can be considered as the Golden Era of CH and FC's rugby during which they clinched the Triple Crown four times. In 1990, led by Imran Sallay, CH clinched the Rugby Triple by winning the John Player League, Clifford Cup (by beating Havelocks 4-0 in the final) and the Premadasa Trophy (with a 12-3 victory over CR in the final).

Two years later the lads from Maitland Crescent, captained by Asitha Boteju, did it for the second time by bagging the 'A' Division League, Rugby sevens title and the Premadasa Trophy (by beating police by 19-9 in the final).

In 1993 CH and FC captained by Hishan Abdeen had another marvellous season. They won the 'A' Division League title, Premadasa Trophy by overcoming Kandy SC 16-0 in the final and Rugby sevens title by beating Havelocks 24-19 in the final which gave them the Rugby Triple for the third time and in 1994 under the leadership of Nishantha Dias the red and white jerseyed lads bagged a Triple crown once again by taking the Rugby sevens title, the Clifford Cup by beating CR 15-11 in the final and the Premadasa Trophy with a smashing 31-16 win over Havelocks in the final.

This year CH and FC's forte will be their power-packed forwards with five of them being picked to play for Sri Lanka. against Thailand in the World Cup Asian Zone qualifier - Dilan Ekanayake, Senaka Bandara, Dushantha Lewke, Jayantha Ranaweera and Dilanka Wijesekera and they will be relied upon to deliver the goods for the Maitland Crescent club.

Leading CH and FC this season is that hard runner and solid tackler Saranga Jayakody who has been turning out for the club for the last four years.

Binding down in the front row will be Sri Lanka prop forwards Dilan Ekanayake and Jayantha Ranaweera with the experienced Sashika Cooray making a determined bid to oust one of them.

The hoocker's berth will be filled by that excellent loose player Sameera Wijeyesinghe who has already donned the Sri Lanka Jersey. Two excellent line out jumpers and tireless loose players - Sri Lanka ruggerite Senaka Bandara and Double International Duminda de Silva will be the lock forwards. Sturdily built Bertie Jayasekera is the other player who could fit into the second row.

National Player Dilanka Wijesekera who has stood out in both attack and defence will occupy-one flanker position with Danushka Perera and Bertie Jayasekera fighting it out for the other berth, Sri Lanka ruggerite Dushantha Lewke, a fine attacking player and excellent cover defender will fill the number eight berth. The foreign exposure he gained by playing in New Zealand should stand him in good stead this season.

The experienced Milinda Jayasinghe will once again operate from the base of the scrum and will pair off with former police and Sri Lanka flyhalf Harshana Wijeweera. The other player who could fit into the pivotal fly half position is skipper Saranga Jayakody.

Skipper Saranga Jayakody, a hard runner and a solid tackler will occupy one centre berth while the trio battling for the other position are Rukshan Wijesinghe ex-Havelocks player Jiffrey Saheed and Veediya Bandara.

That powerful runner Dinesh Kumara will occupy one wing while Udaya Kumara, Niroshan Ekanayake and ex-Policeman Danushka Pubudu will fight it out for the other berth.

The last line of defence will be manned by Dinuk de S. Wijeratne who has stood out with his safe collections and booming kicks to touch. CH and FC is being coached by former Thomian and CH and FC prop forward M.W. Hafeel who is taking great pains to mould them into a formidable outfit. (R.S.)