Havelocks have the edge over Police

Havelocks Sports Club who finished third in last year's 'A' Division League have the edge over Police Sports Club in the curtain - raiser of the Dialog 'A' Division League Rugby Tournament at Police Park today.

The Park Club has benefited immensely from the cross over of several players from traditional rivals CR and FC. Burly CR and FC and Sri Lanka prop forward Henry Terrence will don the pink and chocolate jersey of the park club today and has been bestowed with the captaincy while former Thomian and CR skipper Ashen Karthelis will play in the second row.

Former Isipatana, Sri Lanka youth player and CR player Niroshan Fernando will occupy the pivotal fly half berth and will pair off with ex-Sri Lanka scrum half Amjad Buksh. Former Royal and CR and FC winger Chamara Dabare will also don the pink and chocolate jersey and play in his pet position of winger. Last year's CR and FC full back Mohamed Sheriff will man the last line of defence for the Park Club. Last year's Kandy FC player Dinesh Kumara will play alongside Chamara Vithanage as centres in a strong back division for the Havelocks.

The policemen led by Sri Lanka player Romesh Archarige will have the services of two English players - No. 8 Gould Sheen and centre San Olele. They field an experienced pack which includes Sivadasan, Dinesh Kumara, Skipper Archarige, Mohamed Akmal and two fierce tacklers in flankers U B Gonawela and T D Seneviratne.

POLICE - T Sivadasan, Mohamed Akmal, R Silva, Dinesh Kumara, Romesh Archarige (Captain), U B Gonawala, T D Seneviratne, Gould Sheen, Mohamed Rizwan and Lahiru Gunasinghe, Jeevan Amaradasa, Sam Olele, Viraj Devasurendra, Ranjith Kumara, Hashan Gomes.

HAVELOCKS - Henry Terrence (Captain), Rajiv Perera, Dushmantha Priyadarshana, Kavinda Jayasena, Ashen Karthelis, Sudarshan Muthutantri, Dhiren Warnakulasuriya, Nisan, Amjad Buksh and Niroshan Fernando, Sandun Herath, Chamara Vithanage, Dinesh Kumara, Chamara Dabare, Mohamed Sheriff.