CH and Fc-Air Force clash in curtain-raiser of 'A' Division League Tourney

Ranjeeva Seneviratne

RUGBY: The Colombo Hockey and Football Club which finished third in the 'A' Division League Tournament last year will confront the Sri Lanka Air Force in the curtain raiser of the Caltex 'A' Division League Rugby Tournament at Maitland Crescent on May 18.

CH which will field a formidable team will face a fierce challenge from the rejuvenated Air Force outfit. A

ir Force's rugby resurgence began last year when they finished runners up of segment two of the 'A' Division League losing just one match to Police in the league tournament and also came up with a superb display in the Clifford Cup knock-out tournament in which they went down fighting to eventual champions CR and FC in the semi-finals after taking a 12-10 lead at the breather.

The Airmen also came up with another marvellous display in the second leg of the Singer Professional Sevens at Ratgama in which they stormed into the cup championship final before losing to CR and FC 29-36.

Air Force's forwards played a key role in their success last year. Players of the calibre of Saumya Silva, Kosala Ranasinghe, Prasanna Soysa, Pathum Ediriweera, Tharaka Chandimal and Lanky Pradeep Kurukulasuriya (who leads this year's team) gave of their best last year and are capable of matching upto the CH eight which is laden with national players.

The Airmen will also field the same halves combination of Ajit Herath and Nalin Sirisena but the biggest threat to their opponents will be posed by their wingers Rohan Fernando and Suranga Arunashantha with their power-packed runs down the flanks.

Once again the forte of the Maitland Crescent club will be their powerful forwards. Sri Lanka Prop forwards Nilan Ekanayake and Jayantha Ranaweera will bind down in the front row with the latest addition to the national team Achala Perera occupying the hooker's berth. National player Dinesh Sanjeewa and Wasamba Senerath will be the lock forwards.

Their third row will be the one of the best with Sri Lanka player Dilanka Wijesekera and ex-sailor Sumedha Malewana playing as flankers and ex-Havelocks skipper Rajiv Ganapathy occupying the number eight berth.

CH and FC were let down by their three quarters last year but they will be strengthened by the entry of Fijian Jimmy Bolokoro. The strongly built centre will play beside young Matheesha de Silva who had an excellent season last year.

They will also have a new halves combination this year with 'sevens' specialist Tuan Shamrock operating from the base of the scrum and will pair off with ex-Havelocks player Sajith Bandara who will perform the dual role of fly half and place-kicker.

Young Rukshan Wijesingha and Lakala Perera are likely to occupy the wings with veteran Dinuk de S. Wijeratne manning the last line of defence replacing last year's full back Saliya Kumara who has crossed over to Kandy SC.