Airmen - a force to be reckoned with

Ranjeeva SENEVIRATNE

The Plate Champions of the Caltex ‘A’ Division League Rugby Championship last year the Sri Lanka Air Force have recruited several talented ruggerites who shone for their schools last year and should be a force to be reckoned with in the Caltex ‘A’ Division League Tournament this year.

Last year’s Josephian skipper Priyan Rodrigo, lock forward Kavinda Perera, Kingswood centre Buddhika Kaluarachchi and flanker Mohamed Rizwie and Vidyartha’s Chanaka Chandimal, M.B. Pandiyapperuma and T.L. Wijeratne have joined the Air Force who will also have the services of seasoned campaigners Rohan Fernando, Suranga Arunashantha, Nalin Sirisena, Pradeep Kurukulasuriya, Saumya Silva and Prasanna Soysa.

The Airmen also won the Plate and Bowl Championships in the two Rugby Sevens Tournaments last year in addition to the Plate Championship of the Caltex ‘A’ Division League.

In 2006 the Airmen went down fighting to the formidable CR and FC (13-21) in the semi-finals of the Clifford Cup after leading 13-11 at the breather and also went down fighting to the Red Shirts (29-36) in the Cup Championship finals of the Singer Rugby Sevens at Ratgama.

This year the Airmen came up with a stupendous performance in the second leg of the Dialog Rugby Sevens beating the formidable CH and FC and CR and FC in the quarter-finals and semi-finals of the Cup Championship before losing to Kandy SC (12-41) in the finals.

This year the Airmen will be led by No. 8 Dinesh Weeraratne who turned out for Trinity in 2001 and 2002 before joining the Air Force. He had an excellent season last year and stood out in both attack and defence.

The battle hardened prop forward Saumya Silva will one again bind down in the front row with newcomer Liston Silva likely to occupy the other prop forwards berth.

With last year’s hooker Duminda Vithanage having left the Air force Vidyartha’s M.B. Pandiyapperuma is likely to occupy the hooker’s berth. Former Cambrian Amila Janaka is the other player who is eyeing this position.

The experienced Prasanna Soysa, a superb line out jumper and a tireless player in the loose will be one of the lock forwards with Pubudu Kodagoda, Prasanna Samarahewa and former Josephian Kavinda Perera fighting it out for the other position.

Lanky Sirej Niranga, a fierce tackler and a terrific player in the loose and Pradeep Kurukulasuriya will occupy the flanker berths with former Kingswoodian Mohamed Rizwie and ex-Antonian K. Dilan also fighting for these berths. Skipper Dinesh Weeraratne will occupy the vital No. 8 position.

Young Radeesha Seneviratne who had an excellent season last year and came off with flying colours in the Dialog Rugby Sevens this year will once again operate from the base of the scrum and will pair off with Sri Lanka youth player Chanaka Chandimal who is also a reliable place kicker.

The experienced Suranga Arunashantha, a hard runner and a solid tackler and young Charith Seneviratne will once again occupy the centre berths.

Seneviratne is also a fine place kicker. Kingswoodian Buddhika Kaluarachchi too is vying for a place as a centre. Former skipper and ex-Sri Lanka ‘Sevens’ player Rohan Fernando will be manning one wing with either former Vidyartha player Roshan Ratnayake or last year’s Josephian skipper Priyan Rodrigo occupying the other wing.

Seasoned campaigner Nalin Sirisena who stood out with his safe collections and booming kicks to touch will be once again manning the last line of defence for the Airmen.

Former Thomian and CH and FC prop forward Wazil Hafeel is the man who has transformed the Airmen into a fighting outfit in the last two years and under his guidance they should enjoy a successful season with all the encouragement and support from Chairman of Air Force rugby Air Commodore Saranath Rambukwella and Secretary Wing Commander Sanjaya Fernando.

The Commander of the Air Force Air Marshal Roshan Gunatilleke who represented the Air Force as a flanker from 1979 to 1983 is also giving his maximum support to make the team a formidable outfit.