Asian Rugby Youth Championship 2012 :

Lanka have edge over Singapore

Thushan JAYASURIYA

Sri Lanka will with a well balanced outfit,with the added advantage of being host will go out favourites when they confront Singapore in the Asian Rugby Youth Championship 2012 match at Havelock Park at 4.45 pm today.

Randika Alwis (Captain - Sri Lanka)	Iqbal Rahim (Captain - Singapore). Picture by Lalith C.Gamage

The Lankans have been practising hard under the watchful eyes of Coach Shamley Nawaz, assisted by Asanga Rodrigo and will strive to get the better of the Singaporians and enter Saturday’s final which if they win will enable them to get promoted to division one next year and compete with elite teams Japan, Korea and Hong Kong at the top level.

The Sri Lankans led by Lock Forward Randika Alwis have a powerful pack with players of the calibre of Iroshan de Alwis, Lahiru Pavithra, Lochana Ekanayake, Number Eight Arun Kumar, Flanker Kumendra Dharmadasa and skipper Alwis who should get the better of their counterparts

The host nation should make maximum use of the possession. They have a fine halves combination in Richard Dharmapala and Rimzi Jamaldeen while Thisila Karunatilleke, Hirantha Perera and the two speedy Wingers Uditha Prematilleke and Heshan Maduranga, should test the Singaporian defence to the hilt with their daring runs.

Singaporian coach Jonathan Wei said that their side is studded with youngsters , but are capableof beating Sri Lanka as they have practiced hard during the last few days in Singapore which will stand them in good stead when they confront the Lankans today.

This match will preceded by the curtain raiser of the tournament between Malaysia and Chinese Taipei at 3.00 pm

Sri Lanka Under 19 team : Mohamed Insaaf (Trinity), Lahiru Pavithra (Royal), Iroshan de Alwis(Royal), Randika Alwis (Captain- Trinity), Lochana Ekanayake (Dharmaraja), Ganidu Weerasinghe (Isipatana), Kumendra Dharmadasa (Isipatana), Arun Kumar (Isipatana), Richard Dharmapala (Science) and Rimzi Jamaldeen (Royal), Uditha Prematilleke (Isipatana), Hirantha Perera (Isipatana), Thisila Karunatilleke (Trinity), Heshan Maduranga (Science), Dhanusha Dayan (St.Anthony’s)

Singapore Under 19 team : Mohamed Ashyddiq, Khar Jia Jun, Kenny Lee, Marcus Ang, Kenneth Ang, Leck Kaisen, Iqbal Rahim(Captain),Russel Wong, Cheng Fean Sean and Mohammed Hoessein, Jay Hykel Jalani , Lachlan James, Hadi Bin Hanafi, Stephen Kai Wen, Naresh Kunasegaran or Tong Cheng Yao.

Coaches : Shamley Nawaz (Sri Lanka) , Jonathan Wei and Marcus Mang(Singapore).