CR face tough task against Air Force

Thushan JAYASURIYA

Air Force who come out for the first time this season will field an experienced side and will have the edge over inexperienced CR and FC in their Dialog 'A' division league rugby match at Longden Place today.

The Airmen led by former Sri Lanka winger Suranga Arunashantha will field a strong and experienced pack which includes ex-Sri Lanka prop Jayantha Ranaweera, former skipper and prop Saumya Silva, Lock forwards Wasanba Senarath, Prasanna Soyza, Flanker and former captain Pradeep Kurukulasooriya and No 8 Navinda Pullikuttiarachchi and should get the better of their counterparts in the loose . Their three quarter line also contains seasoned campaigners skipper Arunashantha, Fly half Gayantha Iddamalgoda and national player and centre Charith Seneviratne CR and FC led by Sri Lanka centre Lasintha De Costa will field a young and inexperienced outfit due to the exodus of most of their players to Havelocks and Upcountry Lions and just managed to beat Army Sports Club in their first outing by 22- 20 at Diyagama last week.They have obtained the services of two New Zealanders Luke and Sabir . In addition last year's school boys Nipuna Devinda (Isipatana), Shehan Pathirana (Royal), Piyum Jayasinghe(St.Joseph's who excelled in the carlton rugby sevens and Duminda Nayakaratne(Trinity) will turn out for the Red Shirts today. in addition to experienced campaigners Ishan Noor, Heshan Gunaratne, Hasthika Bandaranayake, former Policeman Gemunu Indrachapa and the de Costa brothers skipper Lasintha and Ashan who will play as centre and full back respectively

CR and FC - Nipuna Devinda, Gemunu Indrachapa, Asanka Gomes, Ishan Noor , Ranjula Perera, Hasthika Bandaranayake, Lakmal Jayasinghe, Shehan Pathirana, Piyum Jayasinghe and Luke , Heshan Gunaratne, Lasintha de Costa(Captain), Sabir , Duminda Nayakaratne, Ashan de Costa.

Air Force - Saumya Silva, Lahiru Udayanga, Jayantha Ranaweera, Wasanba Senerath , Prasanna Soysa, Pradeep Kurukulasooriya, Nuwan Dharshana, Navinda Pullikuttiarachchi, Madusanka Jayaratne and Gayantha Iddamalgoda,Suranga Arunashantha(Captain), Charith Seneviratne, Dilusha Padmakumara, Eranga Ranaweera, Asanka Perera.