Navy strong contender for Dialog 'A' division league title

Thushan JAYASURIYA

Sri Lanka Navy Rugby Team, one of the main contenders for this years Dialog 'A' division league rugby championship having registered five smashing victories in the five matches played so far under the dynamic leadership of Sri Lanka skipper Yoshitha Rajapaksa

The Sailors enjoyed their one of the finest seasons last year ending runners-up of the Caltex 'A' division league to eventual winners Kandy Sports Club and also just failed to clinch the richest prize in Club rugby the "Clifford Cup" losing to Kandy SC by a whisker 16 - 17 in the final .

The sailors entered competitive rugby after lapse of four years in 2009 after they withdrew from 'A' division rugby due to the deployment of their players in the north east war .They made an immediate impact in the 2009 season ending fourth in the Caltex 'A' division league with two stunning victories over the mighty Kandy SC and CR and FC in the return matches played at Welisara. In the following year (2010) they performed even better by finishing third in the Caltex 'A' division league including another sensational win over Kandy SC at Welisara and then in the Clifford Cup Knock out tournament, they knocked out the formidable CR and FC in the quarter finals and emerged runners-up to Kandy Sports Club going down fighting 11 - 26 in the final.

Last year, they had another memorable season to finish second in the Caltex 'A' division league beating all three teams Kandy SC ( 29 - 25), Havelocks (35 - 19) , Police (20 - 14) and CR and FC (33 - 13) under the inspiring captaincy of Sri Lanka Flanker Yoshitha Rajapaksa , whose terrific loose play was a source of inspiration to his team mates Sathya Ranathunga, Sumedha Malewana, Kalana Amarasinghe, Bilal Hassan, Eranga Swarnatillake and Namal Rajapaksa who gave a sterling display in the loose. Last years halves combination of Suranga Pushpakumara and Dev Anand hit it off smoothly while Dinusha Fernando, Kosala Tissera, Chula Susantha, Niranjan Wickramaratne and Eranda Weerakkody tested the opponents defence time and again with their probing runs which resulted in the sailors being in the forefront of Club rugby in Sri Lanka.

Yoshitha Rajapaksa, who led Sri Lanka successfully in the Asian five nations tournament in Manilla in April this year has been once again entrusted with the Captaincy of the Sri Lanka Navy in this years Dialog 'A' division league rugby tournament.

He will play in his pet position of Flanker with the other berth being occupied by his younger brother and former Thomian skipper Rohitha Rajapaksa . Former Royalist Bilal Hassan , who has excelled in both attack and defence, and who had the honour of representing the country as a school boy in the 2008 Asiad will occupy the vital Number Eight position which gives the sailors a formidable third row.

Namal Rajapaksa

Suranga Pushpakumara

Chula Susantha

Rohitha Rajapaksa

Sri Lanka Ruggerites Sathya Ranathunga and Eranda Swarnatillake is the first choice among the Prop Forwards while they faces a strong challenge from Danushka Sandanuwan, Dulanjan Wijesinghe and Mohamed Rizwan. Sri Lanka ruggerite Namal Rajapaksa whose a fine attacking player and a solid tackler, will be the regular hooker.

The experienced trio of former Royalist Kalana Amarasinghe, ex-Peterite Sayuru Anthony and veteran sturdily built Sumedha Malewana will battle it out for the Lock forwards berths .

The trio of Suranga Pushpakumara, Mohamed Abzal and Samantha Lakshan, will battle it out for the Scrum Half berth while former Kingswoodian Dev Anand, who is also a fine place kicker is the first choice among the fly halves with former Trinitian and Sri Lanka Player Rehan Weerakoon also eyeing this berth. Fijian Maravunawasawasa Ratu Taniela, Fijian Cakgunivalu Setefano, Dinusha Fernando and Dulip Methruwan will fight it out for the centres positions.

Chula Susantha, Eranda Weerakkody and Roshan Silva will vie for the Wing threes berth while the last line of defence will be manned by either former CR and Sri Lanka player Reza Mubarak or ex-Airmen and National player Chanaka Chandimal.

Former Kingswoodian Ronnie Ibrahim will once again coach the Sailors and he is determined to mould them in to a champion outfit this year.

The team gets the full support from Navy Commander Vice Admiral Somatillake Dissanayake,Senior Co-ordinator Rear Admiral S.A.M.J.Perera, Navy SC Rugby Football Chairman Commadore J.D.Amaranayake. They are being sponsored by Frontier Automobiles(Pvt) Ltd, Bharti Airtel Lanka Ltd and Kandy Creations.

[The Navy SC Rugby Squad ]

Prop Forwards: Eranga Swarnatillake,Danushka Sandanuwan, Dulanjan Wijesinghe, Mohamed Rizwan and Sathya Ranathunga

Hooker: Namal Rajapaksa

Lock Forwards: Sayuru Anthony, Sumedha Malawana
Flankers: Yoshitha Rajapaksa (Captain) and Rohitha Rajapaksa.

Number Eight: Bilal Hassan
Scrum-Half: Suranga Pushpakumara, Mohamed Abzal and Samantha Lakshan
Fly-Half: Dev Anand and Rehan Weerakoon

Centres: Maravunawasawasa Ratu Taniela, Cakgunivalu Setefano, Dinusha Fernando and Dulip Methruwan.

Wingers: Chula Susantha, Eranda Weerakkody and Roshan Silva.
Fullback: Reza Mubarak
Coach : Ronnie Ibrahim
Asst.Coach : Panda Wijeratne.
Physical Trainer : A.L.N.Niroshan and W.M.B.Doranegama
Team Manager : Pradeep Kaluarachchi

[Remaining Fixtures]

July 14 : V CR and FC at Welisara
July 22 :V Havelock SC at Havelock Park
August 4 : V Kandy SC at Welisara