Annites field an experienced side

S. M. Jiffrey Abdeen - Kandy Sports corr

St. Anne's College, Kurunegala, will be fielding an experienced side with eight of the players from last year's side available this season, but they have failed to click as a team. Last year they had a disastrous season in the Division one segment B when they lost most of their matches.

They conceded over 100 points to Vidyartha College and St. Sylvester's College in their two home matches.

Their poor performance saw them being pushed down to the next division. Their main task this season is to get back to the Segment ‘B’ of the Division one but they have a herculean task in their hands as they have some tough obstacles to surmount.

The Annites a few years back had a good season which saw them going up the ladder in the tournament but the loss of key players and others who did not perform to true potential resulted in them losing many matches.

The team is led by third year player and centre Sasika Arangalla, a hard runner and a good tackler. The team is coached by former Sri Lanka Air Force centre Chamitha Mahamalge who has just taken over the side.

He is keen on building up a nursery by developing the juniors, so that the larder is full. He said that around 21 boys turn up for practices which is conducted at the Maliyadewa College grounds.

The boys must be induced to take to the game from the very junior level, he said.

The squad:

Props: V. A. H. Senaviratne and Harsha Bandara,

Sasika Arangalla (Captain)

Nilaksha Perera

Udara Lakmal

Sonal Abeysinghe

Hooker: W. I. K. Shenal Fernando

Locks: Merl Kumarasinghe, A. M. Dhanushka Yohan, Ernest Sikuradhapathi.

Flankers: S. Mallawarachchi and Isuru Gunatillake.

Number eight: M. S. M. Premasiri

Scrum half: S. Mapa

Fly half: Sonal Abeysinghe

Wingers: Diran Kirtley and Udara Lakmal

Centres: Sasika Arangalla (Captain), and Adrian Gehan

Full back: Nilaksha Perera.