Injury hit CR face tough task against Havelocks

Ranjeeva Seneviratne

The reigning President's Trophy champions and runners up of the Caltex 'A' Division League for the last four years CR and FC which is in a buoyant mood after its smashing win over CH and FC will confront traditional rivals Havelocks Sports Club in their Caltex 'A' Division League rugby match at Longden Place today.

The Red Shirts who are going great guns this season with five smashing victories over Air Force (29-3), Old Zahirians (85-3), Police (25-16), Army (46-21) and CH and FC (44-8) will face a determined Havelocks outfit who will be hell bent on toppling the Red Shirts and bounce back into recognition after losing to mighty Kandy SC (6-36) having notched up four wins in a row over Army (21-15), Old Zahirians (91-0), Air Force (24-20) and Police (22-12).

CR and FC have been hit by injuries and will miss the services of several key players for today's match.

CR and FC will miss the services of former Sri Lanka flanker Pavithra Fernando, National Player Ashen Karthelis, fly half Dev Anand and centre Lasintha de Costa all of whom are on the injured list. Possession will play a key role in the final outcome. The set scrums should be shared between Sri Lanka hooker Anuja Perera of CR and experienced Rajiv Perera of Havelocks while in the line outs the Havelocks duo of Jayasena and Izzadeen have the edge over CR's Dharmatilleke.

In the loose a terrific tussle for supremacy can be expected with CR's power-packed forwards Mohamed, Anuja Perera, Dharmatilleke, Danushka Perera, Kasun de Silva and Dushanth Lewke being confronted by equally good forwards in Shefi Hassan, Rajiv Perera, Jayasena, Izzadeen, Ganapathy and T. D. Seneviratne.

But the Red Shirts boast of a superior back division. The halves combination of Amjad Buksh and Dev Anand have hit it off smoothly while centres Kosala Tissera and Karunanayake have pierced the opponents defence with their probing runs while wingers Mohamed Jabbar and young Nishan de Silva have tested the opponents defence to the hilt with their powerful runs down the flank in addition to an attacking full back in Mohamed Sheriff. Dev Anand has been sidelined by injury and will be replaced by Ashan de Costa.

The Park Club has an adequate halves combination in Dilan de Zoysa and Samantha Lakshan but it is left to be seen how the other three quarters will fare in today's game.

CR and FC - Shamil Mohamed (Captain), Anuja Perera, Duminda Pullikuttiarachchi, Anuradha Dharmatilleke, Lasantha Mallikarachchi, Danushka Perera, Kasun de Silva, Dushanth Lewke, Amjad Buksh or Zulki Hamid and Ashan de Costa, Mohamed Jabbar, Niroshan Karunanayake, Kosala Tissera, Nishan de Silva, Mohamed Sheriff.

Havelocks - Shafi Hassen, Rajiv Perera, Danushka Sandaruwan, Kavinda Jayasena (Captain), Mohamed Izzadeen, T. D. Seneviratne, Sharo Fernando, Rajiv Ganapathy, Dilan de Zoysa and Semantha Lakshan, Chanaka Fonseka, Zakir Badurdeen, Nuwan Samith or Ruwan Suranga, Wasim Thajudeen, Dilip Methruwan or Nuwan Hettiarachchi.