CH-Police clash should be a thriller

Ranjeeva SENEVIRATNE

The confrontation between CH and FC and Police Sports Club in the third quarter-final of the Caltex Inter-Club Knock-out Rugby Tournament for the Clifford Cup at Havelock Park today should turn out to be a thriller.

The Policemen won the first round game of the Caltex ‘A’ Division League at Police Park by 12-11 but lost the return match Mainland Crescent by 12-18 and a close match could be expected today.

Both teams boast of powerful sets of forwards and a terrific tussle for supremacy can be expected up front with CH’s Jayantha Ranaweera, Achala Perera, Dinesh Sanjeewa, Dilanka Wijesekera, Sumedha Malewana and Sajith Saranga being confronted by Police’s marauding ‘eight’ especially Nishantha Walagedara, Malith Hettiarachchi, Nalin Archarige, Pradeep Wilson, Asela Vithana and Skipper Nilusha Fernando.

In the set scrums CH’s Achala Perera should get the better of his vis-a-vis Hettiarachchi while in the line outs the Police trio of Wilson, Archarige and Vithana have the edge over the CH duo of Sanjeewa and Damith Perera.

The return of Sri Lanka winger Lakala Perera has strengthened the CH back division with the halves combination of Tuan Shanrock and Omar Hassen hitting it off smoothly in the last few matches. It is up to the CH centres Matheesha de Silva and Ruchika Fernando to send the ball out quickly to the wings where Lakala Perera and Shane Dissanayake are likely to test the Police defence to the hilt with their powerful runs down the flank.

The Policemen have shifted centre Harshana Wijeweera to the fly half berth and his long kicks to touch should give than territorial advantage.

The Teams: CH and FC - Jayantha Ranaweera (Captain), Achala Perera, Sashika Cooray, Dinesh Sanjeewa, Damith Perera, Dilanka Wijesekera, Sajith Saranga, Sumedha Malewana, Tuan Shanrock and Omar Hassen, Shane Dissanayake, Matheesha de Silva, Ruchika Fernando, Lakala Perera, Milinda Jayasinghe.

Police - Nishantha Walagedera, Malith Hettiarachchi, Sivanandan, Nalin Archarige, Asela Vithana, Gemunu Indrachapa, Nilusha Fernando (Captain), Pradeep Wilson, Milinda Bandara and Harshana Wijeweera, Ajith Nilanga, Chula Susantha, Priyantha Ekanayake, Susith Randima, Jeevan Amaradasa.