Police face tough task against CR

Ranjeeva Seneviratne

RUGBY: The Sri Lanka Police which gave a pathetic display against CH and FC last week will have the tough task of overcoming the star studded CR and FC in their Caltex 'A' Division League rugby match at Police Park today.

The Policemen began the season with a sensational 16-12 win over Havelocks a fortnight ago but gave a dismal performance last week but will have to come up with a much better display if they hope to topple the Red Shirts today.

Both teams have made changes for today's game. CR and FC have brought in former Isipatanian Senthil Kumara as hooker at the expense of Suneth Chathuranga while Sri Lanka flanker Ashan Karthelis makes a welcome return to the side displacing Kasun de Silva. The other change is in the back division where Omar Sariffodeen replaces Asanga Rodrigo as fly half and will pair off with Sri Lanka scrum half Amjad Buksh.

The policemen have omitted hooker Chaminda Silva who has been replaced by Gamunu Indrachapa while D.K. Perera comes into the second row with Nizam Shahabdeen filling the vacant flanker berth.

Up front a close tussle for supremacy can be expected with CR's power-packed forwards Boteju Terrence, Gayan Fernando, Dharmatilleke, Karthelis and Pavithra Feranndo being confronted by equally good forwards in Walagedera, Hewawasan, Wilson, Asirige, Dias and Chandralepa. The set scrums should be shared between CR's Senthil Kumara and Police's Indrachapa while the CR trio of Dharmatillake, Gayan Fernando and Karthelis should hold sway in the line outs.

The red shirts with a superior back division should make maximum use of the good ball that comes their way if their halves combination of Buksh and Sariffodeen clicks.

In centres Mohamed Sheriff and Lasintha de Costa CR has two hard runners who are capable of piercing the Police defence while on the wing they will have the services of that powerful runner Dinesh Kumara in addition to an attacking full back Ashan de Costa who joins the line to form the overlap.

Police will hope that their fly half Harshana Wijeweera will feed his three quarters with 'good ball' instead of kicking ahead aimlessly as centre Nilusha Fernando and wingers Hasith Niranga and Champika Thushara are capable of testing the CR defence to the hilt as they did against Havelocks two weeks ago.

CR and FC - Danushka Boteju, Senthil Kumara, Henry Terrence, Anuradha Dharmatilleke (Captain), Gayan Fernando, Ashen Karthelis, Pavithra Fernando, Navin Wijetunge, Amjad Buksh and Omar Sariffodeen, Dinesh Kumara, Mohamed Sheriff, Lasintha de Costa, Ravindra Wekadapola, Ashan de Costa.

Police - Charaka Hewawasam, Gemunu Indrachapa, Nishantha Welagedera, Pradeep Wilson (Captain), D.K. Perera, Nalin Asirige, Nizam Shahabdeen, Asanga Dias, Ajit Herath and Harshana Wijeweera, Hasith Niranga, Nilusha Fernando, Priyantha Ekanayake, Champika Thushara , Jeevan Amaradasa.

Havelocks-Army tomorrow

Havelocks Sports Club which scored a morale-boosting 48-nil win over Old Zahirians last week should have no difficulty in overcoming the young Sri Lanka Army outfit on Saturday.

The Soldiers suffered two heavy defeats at the hands of CR and FC (3-32) and Kandy SC (3-66)and will find it difficult to contain the Park Club which will be hell bent in notching up their second win for the season. To add to their woes the Soldiers will miss the services of two key players - Sri Lanka fullback T.A. Silva and Prop. Kotelawela who are on the injured list.

Tomorrow Havelocks are likely to win an abundance of possession with skipper Rajiv Perera likely to get the better of Army's Perera in the set scrums and the trio of Jayasena, Dissanayake and Jayasuriya prevailing in the line outs.

Fly half Wasim Thajudeen should feed his three quarters at every opportunity as they have fast and penetrative runners in Ruwan Suranga, Nuwan Samith and Zakir Badurdeen who should be able to breach the Army defence.

Havelocks - Shafi Hasen, Rajiv Perera (Captain), Kasun Yasaisuru, Kavinda Jayasena, S.B. Dissanayake, Ravi Jayasuriya, Siva Wanasinghe, Tyronne Harrison, Dilan de Zoysa, Wasim Thajudeen, Chanaka Fonseka, Ruwan Suranga, Nuwan Samith, Zakir Badurdeen and Anushka Hasaranga.

Army Meepage (Captain), Perera, Palihena, Susantha, Pushapkumara, Silva, Kobbekaduwa, Jayalath, Sandun Dharshana and Upali Wickremasinghe, Vajira Jayatilleke, Maurice Abeyratne, Suranga Pilimatalawa, Harischandra and Kapila Knowlton.