Kandy SC take on Old Zahirians in their first match

Ranjeeva Seneviratne

Kandy Sports Club which reigned supreme in the club rugby scene last year by clinching the rugby double - the Caltex 'A' division league rugby title and Clifford Cup will come out for the first time this season when they confront the minnows of 'A' division rugby Old Zahirians Sports Club on May 4 (Sunday) in Colombo.

The lads from the hill capital had a marvellous season last year. They retained the Caltex 'A' division league rugby title for a record seventh successive year by remaining unbeaten and went onto bag the double by overcoming CR and FC in the Clifford Cup final.

This year they field another formidable team and have been strengthened by the return of their 2004 skipper Radhika Hettiarachchi who played a key role in the success of CR and FC and Sri Lanka in the Singer Rugby Asiad last year.

In addition they have obtained the services of four Sri Lanka youth players who took part in the Asian Youth Rugby championships in Brunei - skipper Gayan Weeraratne (Kingswood) and Roshan Wijesiri, Kusal Rankothge and Sashika Jayawardena (all three from St. Anthony's).

Former Sri Lanka flanker Trinitian Sean Wijesinghe has been entrusted with the task of leading Kandy SC this year.

Their power-packed forwards should once again play a vital role in their success. Last year's Kandy SC and Sri Lanka skipper Jeewa Galgamuwa, prop forward Kishore Jehan, hooker Anuranga Walpola, lock forwards Senaka Bandara and Sumedha Jayasinghe, flankers Imran Bisthamin, Sean Wijesinghe and No. 8 Dushanth Lewke should give another sterling display this season.

Sri Lanka player Saliya Kumara or Prasad Chathuranga will operate from the base of the scrum and will pair off with Sri Lanka fly half Fazil Marija who was adjudged the Most Outstanding Ruggerite last year.

Sri Lanka Sevens team skipper Pradeep Liyanage and Kingswoodian Gayan Weeraratne are likely to be the centres.

That powerful runner Sanjeeva Jayasinghe will once again occupy one wing with either Eranda Weerakkody or Antonian Kusal Rankothge manning the other wing. Strongly built Radhika Hettiarachchi is likely to man the last line of defence for Kandy SC this season with Nalaka Weerakkody having hung up his boots.