Havelocks-Army clash-pick of the quarter-finals

RUGBY: The clash between Havelocks Sports Club and the Sri Lanka Army at Havelock Park tomorrow is the pick of the four quarter-final matches of the Caltex Clifford Cup Knck-out Rugby Tournament which kicks off today.

Runners-up of the Caltex 'A' Division League Tournament CR and FC will play host to Galle RFC at Longden Place today, while Air Force will confront Kurunegala RFC at Ratmalana today in the second quarter-final. Kurunegala RFC have replaced Police Sports Club who have pulled out of the tournament along with defending champions Kandy SC.

CH and FC will take on Old Zahirians in the third quarter-final at Maitland Crescent tomorrow, while on the same day Havelocks-Army clash in the fourth quarter-final.

The Red Shirts who will be sans five regulars should have no difficulty in overcoming Galle RFC today. Hooker Viraj Prasantha and second rower Sevantha de Saram have been rested while scrum half Anjad Buksh and Anuradha Dharmatilleke are on the injured list.

Centre Rajith Jaysundera has gone back to Australia and his place will be taken by A.T.P. Achalanka. Prasantha has been replaced by Anuja Perera while ex-Anandian Anuradha Fonseka will be the new second rower. Zulki Hamid will fill the vacant scrum half berth..

The Airmen are expected to come up with a fine display on their home grounds at Ratmalana and overcome new comers Kurunegala RFC.

Tomorrow's confrontation at Havelock Park should turn out to be a battle between Army's power-packed forwards and Havelocks speedy three-quarters up front the Army 'eight' should dominate with Karunaratna, Jayasuriya, Meepage, Kotalawala, Jayasinghe and Anuradha expected to give another fiery display.

The sat scrums should be shared between Army's Jayasinghe and Havelocks Rajiv Perera while the Havelocks trio of Boteju, Dissanayake and Jayasuriya should hold sway in the line outs.

Havelocks forte are their three-quarters. The halves combination of Dilan de Zoysa and Sajith Bandara have hit it off smoothly while centres Ruwan Suranga, Nuwan Samith and winger Lalindra Rodrigo are hard runners who are capable of piercing the Army defence.

Another strong contender for the Clifford Cup CH and FC should get the better of Old Zahirians tomorrow.

The Old Zahirians have lost the services of several top players who have crossed over to other clubs this season and face a daunting task against the lads from Maitland Crescent who finished third in the Caltex 'A' Division League Tournament.

The Clifford Cup quarter-finals

1. CR and FC vs Galle RFC at Longden Place on July 29.

2. Air Force vs Kuruengala RFC at Ratmalan on July 29.

3. CH and FC vs Old Zahirians at Maitland Crescent on July 30.

4. Havelocks vs Army SC at Havelock park on July 30. (R.S.)