CH-Police clash in curtain raiser of Caltex ‘A’ division league

RANJEEVA SENEVIRATNE

The formidable CH and FC will confront the Sri Lanka Police in the curtain raiser of the Caltex ‘A’ division league rugby tournament at Maitland Crescent on May 15 (Friday).

Last year too these two teams met in the opening game of the tournament in which the Policemen scored a sensational 12-11 win over the more fancied CH and FC at Police Park.

This year the lads from Maitland Crescent are led by Sri Lanka hooker Achala Perera and will have players of the calibre of Jayantha Ranaweera, Sathya Ranatunge, Wasamba Senarath, Dinesh Sanjeewa, Dilanka Wijesekera, last year’s Havelocks flanker Sharo Fernando and utility player Bilal Hassen all of whom have represented the country.

In the back division they will have the services of Tuan Shamrock, Sajith Bandara, ex-CR and Sri Lanka centre Avantha Hettiarachchi, Dinuk de S. Wijeyeratne, Lakala Perera in addition to former Kandy SC and Sri Lanka skipper Sajith Mallikarachchi.

The Policemen will be captained by Sri Lanka fly-half Harshana Wijeweera and will have an experienced set of forwards in Charaka Hewawasam, Nishantha Welagedera, Malith Hettiarahchi, Pradeep Wilson, T. D. Seneviratne, Gemunu Indrachapa and Chaminda Silva.

Scrum half Milinda Bandara, centres Ranjith Kumara, Priyantha Ekanayake, winger Hasith Nilanga, full back Jeevan Amaradasa and skipper Wijeweera will be the key players in the three quarter line.

The Sri Lanka Navy which did not take part in competitive rugby during the last three years as most of their players were deployed for duty in the Northern and Eastern Provinces will be playing in the Caltex ‘A’ Division League after a lapse of three years and will take on defending champions Kandy Sports Club in their first match on May 17 (Sunday) at Nittawela.

The Navy team is a blend of youth and experience and will create some upsets as the season progresses.

The Sailors boast of a formidable third row in ex-Sri Lanka flanker Ravi Jayasuriya, former Sri Lanka No. 8 Sumedha Malewana and former Thomian skipper Yoshitha Rajapaksa. Veteran U. G. M. Suranga will bind down in the front row with ex-Kandy SC player Machananayake with CR and FC player Suneth Chaturanga as the hooker. Two talented youngsters Kingswoodian Nuwan Bandara and Trinitian Shehan Deen will be the lock forwards.

Former Trinity and CR scrum half Suranga Pushpakumara will operate from the base of the scrum and will pair-off with last year’s Havelocks’ fly half Samantha Lakshan. Former Havelocks player Dilip Methruwan will play alongside ex-Trinity and CR ruggerite Kosala Tissera as centres.

Last year’s Havelocks winger and place kicker Nuwan Hettiarachchi and CH player Niranjan Wickramaratne will be manning the wings with ex-Kandy SC player Eranda Weerakkody occupying the full back berth.

Havelocks Sports Club who were placed third in last year’s league, will lock horns with Sri Lanka Army on May 16 at Havelock Park, while Sri Lanka Air Force will play hosts to last year’s runners-up CR and FC on May 17 at Ratmalana.

The ‘A’ division league tournament will be sponsored by Chevron Lubricants for the tenth successive year.