Havelocks have the edge over CR
Thushan JAYASURIYA
Havelocks Sports Club , who field a team packed with experienced
players should have the edge over traditional rivals CR and FC when they
clash in their Dialog ‘A’ division league rugby match at Longden Place
today.
The Park Club have obtained the services of five players from CR and
FC – Prop Forward Henry Terrance, Lock Forward Ashen Karthelis, Fly Half
Niroshan Fernando, Full Back Mohamed Sheriff and Winger Chamara Dabare
in addition to seasoned campaigners Hooker Rajiv Perera, Lock Forward
Kavinda Jayasena, Flankers Dhiren Warnakulasuriya Sudharshan
Muthuthanthri and Centre Thusitha Samarathillake and will also have the
services of two foreigners Samoan Number Eight Aitui Nissan and Tongan
Centre Williami Hakalo and will go flat out to maintain their unbeaten
record this season by overcoming the Red Shirts.
CR and FC will who have lost the services of several players who have
crossed over to other clubs will field a fresher laden side and will
have the tough task of overcoming the Park Club today.
Sri Lanka Youth players – Prop Forwards Nipuna Devinda and Hafiz
Adahan, Lock Forward Ranjula Perera, Sri Lanka Youth Player and former
Royal skipper Shehan Pathirana, Kingswoodian Malith Silva have joined
the Longden Place Club and will don the Red jersey today alongside two
top New Zealand players Fly Half Luke Muggeridge and Number Eight
Palatsala Molele who arrived in the island five days ago.
Both teams remain unbeaten this season . Havelocks have overcome
Police ( 33 – 10 ), Army ( 25 – 22 ) and Air Force ( 47 – 5 ) while the
Red Shirts have beaten Army ( 22 -20 ) and Air Force ( 44 – 27 ) . Last
year CR and FC won the first round game at Havelock Park by 15 – 10
while the pink and chocolate jersyed lads broke a five year hoodoo by
edging out CR and FC (25 – 24) in the return match at Longden Place .
The Teams
CR and FC : Nipuna Devinda, Gemunu Indrachapa, Hafiz Adahan,
Ranjula Perera, Hasthike Bandaranayake, Palaksala Molele, Malith Silva,
Shehan Pathirana, Radheesha Seneviratne and Luke Muggeridge, Heshan
Gunaratne, Mushin Faleel, Priyantha Ekanayake, Lasintha de Costa (
Captain ), Ashan de Costa.
Havelocks : Henry Terrance(Captain), Rajiv Perera, Dushmantha
Priyadarshana, Kavinda Jayasena, Ashen Karthelis, Sudharshan
Muthuthanthri, Dhiren Warnakulasuriya, Aitui Nissan , Rizwan Meedin and
Niroshan Fernando, Chamara Dabare, Williami Hakalo, Thusitha
Samarathillake, Sandun Herath or Lee Keegal, Mohamed Sheriff. |