Navy - strong contender for 'A' Division League Title

Ranjeeva SENEVIRATNE

The Sri Lanka Navy which entered the Caltex 'A' Division League rugby tournament after four years in 2009 came up with a stupendous performance to end up in third position with eight victories in 12 outings.

Ransith Pieris. (Captain)

Yoshitha Rajapaksa

Sumedha Malewana

Manjula Ruwantilleke

Suranga Pushpakumara

The sailors led by flanker Yoshitha Rajapaksa scored two stunning wins over the mighty Kandy SC (11-10) and the star studded CR and FC (18-3) and also beat the formidable CH and FC in both matches by 18-12 and 20-14.

Same team

This year their aim is to clinch the Caltex 'A' Division League Title having retained the same team and being further strengthened by the inclusion of four Sri Lanka youth players Hasthika Bandaranayake, Kalana Amarasinghe, Hamza Hassan (all three from Royal) and Cambrian Dushan Honnanthara.

This year former Anandian Ransith Pieris has been entrusted with the task of captaining the sailors. Peiris will play in his accustomed position of hooker with Sri Lanka under 19 player Hamza Hassan as stand by. Ex-national player Suranga Swarantilleke and Piumal Manchanayake will bind down in the front row with Duminda Pullikuttiarachchi also staking claim for a prop forward's berth. The sailors are assured of plenty of 'good ball' from the line outs with former Sri Lanka ruggerite Manjula Ruwantilleke playing alongside Royal and Sri Lanka youth player Kalana Amarasinghe in the second row. Both are excellent line out jumpers and tireless players in the loose.

Second row

Ex - CH and FC player Gayashan Wijesinghe is the other player who could fit into the second row. Sturdily built Sumedha Malewana (who represented Sri Lanka in the 2007 Rugby Asiad) will be the regular number eight with ex-Havelocks ruggerite Tyronne Harrison as the stand-by.

Sri Lanka player Yoshitha Rajapaksa, a fine attacking player and a fierce tackler will play in his pet position of flanker. Sri Lanka Youth players Dushan Honnanthara, Hasthika Bandaranayake and former Thomian skipper Rohitha Rajapaksa will battle it out for the other flanker berth.

Nippy Suranga Pushpakumara (who played for Sri Lanka at the Carlton Rugby Sevens) will one again operate from the base of the scrum and will pair off with Dev Anand who has stood out with his booming kicks to touch and excellent place-kicking.

Two hard runners and solid tacklers Dilip Methruwan and Chula Susantha will be the regular centres once again with M.R.R.C. Silva making a determined bid to oust one of them.

Nuwan Hettiarachchi who played for Sri Lanka at the Carlton Sevens and Asian Division one tourney in Singapore will occupy one wing while ex-CH and FC player Niranjan Wickremaratne and former Trinity and CR ruggerite Kosala Tissera will fight it out for the other berth.

Eranda Weerakkody who has stood out with his safe collections and long kicks to touch who has a knack for joining the line to form the overlap will be manning the last line of defence. Royalist Shailendra Chandrasekera is the other player who could fit into this position.

The sailors will be once again coached by Ronnie Ibrahim who took great pains to mould them into a force to be reckoned with last year. He is receiving all the encouragement and support form the Chairman of Navy rugby Commodore N.K.D. Nanayakkara.