Caltex Knock-out Rugby Tournament:

CR have the edge over CH

Ranjeeva Seneviratne

CR and FC which scored a sensational 16-14 win over the league champions Kandy SC in the final outing of the ‘A’ Division League have the edge over CH and FC in the quarter-final of the Caltex Knock-out Rugby Tournament for the Clifford Cup at the Royal Sports Complex today.

However, the lads from Maitland Crescent who were relegated to the Plate Championship are a vastly improved side having registered two superb wins over Police (22-14) and Havelocks (25-0) and should give the Red Shirts a run for their money today.

CH and FC too boast of a strong pack and should give the famed CR ‘eight’ a torrid time in the loose.

Skipper Dinesh Sanjeeva has been a source of inspiration to his teammates with his fiery loose play ably supported by Sathya Ranatunge, Tharindu Hasaranga, Sandun Kumara, Asanga Thalagalarachchi and ex-Police skipper Nilusha Fernando who are capable of matching upto CR’s power-packed forwards Henry Terrence, Anuja Perera, Ishan Noor, Sharo Fernando, Danushka Perera and skipper Dushanth Lewke.

CR and FC have a superior back division. The new halves combination of Zulki Hamid and Niroshan Fernando have hit it off smoothly in the last few matches while centre Shabbir Mohamed, wingers Dinusha Chathuranga and Vishwamithra Jayasinghe are hard runners who look capable of breaching the CH defence with full back Reza Mubarak having the knack of joining the line to form the overlap. Incidentally it was Vishwamithra Jayasinghe who stole the limelight with a breath-taking 80-metre run to score under the posts just before the final whistle to give CR and FC a 16-14 win over Kandy SC.

CR AND FC: Henry Terrence, Anuja Perera, Shehan Dimithri, Ishan Noor, Sharo Fernando, Danushka Perera, Dushanth Lewke (Captain), Roshenka Kodituwakku, Zulki Hamid and Niroshan Fernando, Dinusha Chathuranga, Shabbir Mohamed, Nigel Ratwatte, Vishwamithra Jayasinghe, Reza Mubarak.

CH AND FC: Sathya Ranatunge, Janaka de Silva, Tharindu Hasaranga, Sandun Kumara, Chaminda Herath, Asanka Thalagalarachchi, Nilusha Fernando, Dinesh Sanjeeva (Captain), Roy Nishantha and Dinuk de S Wijeyeratne, Lakala Perera, Avantha Hettiarachchi, Indika Udayakumara, Ameen Jameel, Indika Wickremanayake.