Navy face tough task against Havies
Navy Sports Club which struggled to beat a gallant Police outfit by
15-12 through a last minute try will face the tough task of overcoming
Havelocks Sports Club in the semi-final of the Caltex Clifford Cup
knock-out tournament at Royal Sports complex today.
The sailors will once again miss the services of their play-maker Dev
Anand who played a keyrole in their success in the 'A' Division League
due to injury. In addition No 8 Namal Rajapaksa is also not available
for today's game. Sri Lanka player Samantha Lakshan will occupy the
pivotal fly half berth while Bilal Hassan will fill the No 8 position
with younger brother Hansa Hassan coming into the team as hooker.
The Park Club has brought in veteran Rajiv Perera to the hooker's
position while flanker Dhiren Warnakulasuriya has moved to the second
row making way for Dilip Selvam to come into the side as flanker.
Today's semi-final should turn out to be a battle between Navy's
power-packed forwards and Havelocks speedy three quarters. The Navy
'eight' should reign supreme in the loose with skipper Yoshitha
Rajapaksa, Danushka Perera, Sumedha Malewana, Kalana Amarasinghe, Sathya
Ranatunge and the omnipresent Bilal Hassan likely to give another
sterling display.
The Park Club boasts of a superior back division. They have a fine
halves combination in Amjad Buksh and Pushpakumara Perera while centres
Anuruddha Wilwara, Tongan Paula Talaka and winger Chamara Vithanage are
hard runners who are capable of tearing apart Navy's defence.
Navy Sports Club - Sathya Ranatunge, Hamsa Hassan, Piumal
Manchanayake, Kalana Amarasinghe, Sumedha Malewana, Yoshitha Rajapaksa
(captain), Danushka Perera, Bilal Hassan, Suranga Pushpakumara and
Samantha Lakshan, Dinusha Chathuranga, Kosala Tissera, Dilip Methruwan,
Chula Susantha and Eranda Weerakkody
Havelocks Sports Club - Desmond Wilson, Rajiv Perera, Dushmantha
Priyadarshana, Kavinda Jayasena (captain), Dhiren Warnakulasuriya, Dilip
Selvam, Sudarshan Muthutantri, Angsta Sae, Amjad Buksh and Pushpakumara
Perera, Chamara Vithanage, Paula Talaka, Anuruddha Wilwara, Ruchira
Ratnage and Sajith Bandara |
