CH and FC field a young side

Ranjeeva SENEVIRATNE

The Colombo Hockey and Football Club has been in the forefront of club rugby during the last decade. They clinched the Caltex 'A' Division League Title in the year 2000 by beating CR and FC 25-16 in the decider at Maitland Crescent having also scored a stunning 33-11 win over the mighty Kandy SC in the return match at the same venue.

Three years later (2003) the lads from Maitland Crescent had another marvellous season emerging runners-up of the Caltex 'A' Division League by winning 13 matches out of 15 drawing one (25-all against Havelocks) and losing only to champions Kandy SC at Nittawela but made amends by winning the return game at Maitland Crescent by 36-20. They also stormed into the Clifford Cup final before losing to Kandy SC (20-36) at Nittawela. They also had the honour of finishing third in the Caltex 'A' Division League from 2004 to 2007 before being pushed down to fourth place in 2008 (by Havelocks) and 2009 (Navy).

This year CH and FC will field a young side due to an exodus of senior players to other clubs but came up with a gallant display to beat the experienced Army team by 26-20 in the curtain-raiser of the league last week.

Lock forward Dinesh Sanjeewa an excellent line out jumper and a terrific player in the loose who has been turning out for CH and FC and Sri Lanka for the last five years will lead the club this year. He will play alongside either Sandun Kumara or ex-Peterite Hiran Bibile in the second row. Sri Lanka prop forward Sathya Ranatunge will bind down in the front row along with either Tharindu Hasaranga or Asid Ismail. Former Royalist Bimal Herath is the first choice for the hooker's berth. Mohamed Azam is the stand-by for this position.

The experienced Asanka Thalagalarachchi, a fine attacking player and fierce tackler will fill the Number Eight berth. Former Isipatana Skipper and ex-CR player Asoka Gunawardena will be one of the flankers while ex-Antonian Ishan Jayasekera and former Police Skipper and Sri Lanka flanker Nilusha Fernando will battle it out for the other position.

Ex-Royalist Omar Hassan, a superb place kicker will once again occupy the pivotal fly half berth.

He will pair off with Tuan Shamrock with the experienced Roy Nishantha and former Peterite Skipper Ranuka Jayasinghe too making a strong claim for the scrum half berth.

Two hard runners and solid tacklers Avantha Hettiarachchi and Shane Aravinda Dissanayake both national players will be the regular centres with Rushika Fernando being the other player who could fit into this position.

Sri Lanka player Lakala Perera who has stood out with his daring runs down the flank will occupy one wing with Niroshan Ekanayake, Ameen Jameel and Zafique Jayah battling it out for the other berth.

Indika Udayakumara will be manning the last line of defence with veteran Dinuk de S. Wijeyeratne and ex-Rajan Indika Wickremanayake making a determined bid to oust him.

Tony Amit, a coach with a proven track record is taking great pains to mould them into a strong outfit which could give a close run to formidable teams like Kandy SC, CR and FC and Navy.