CH and FC which suffered a shock 22-38 defeat at the hands of defending champions Kandy Sports Club last week at Nittawala, will go all out to make amends for it by overcoming defending league runners-up Navy Sports Club in their Dialog ‘A’ Division League rugby first round match at Welisara today with kick off scheduled for 4.00 pm.
Navy forwards along with their speedy three-quarters gave out a superb performance against Army at Ratmalana last week coming out victorious 24-14 and will have to come up with a similar performance if they hope to overcome the CH outfit in their own den at Welisara.
Speaking exclusively to the Sunday Observer Mothilal Jayathilake - head coach of the Navy team said: “At present our team is playing very good rugby getting together with the forwards and the three-quarters. Especially our defence and the attacking brand of rugby is at our best. We have the advantage as I know the strength as well as the weaknesses of most of the CH players who played with me as coach before. So we are confident and going all out for a victory today”.
Last year the lads from Maitland Crescent in their first round game beat the Sailors but lost the second round game played at Welisara.
Hence another terrific tussle for supremacy can be expected today and it won’t be a surprise if CH and FC emerge victorious against all odds today.
“Composition of our team is gradually falling into place now and the team is gelling together well. We are going into this Navy game brimming with confidence,” said CH and FC head coach Ronny Ibrahim.
CH & FC (Probable team):
Sathya Ranatunga, Prasath Madushan, Kalindu Kariyawasam, Matheesha Sarathchandra, Chatura Dilshan, Yoshitha Rajapaksa (captain), Sudarshana Muthuthanthri, Nivanka Prasad, Sudam Sooriyarachchi and Rohitha Rajapaksa, Anuradha Herath, Hirantha Perera, Nishon Perera, Navin Henakankanamge and Samuel Maduwantha. Coach: Ronny Ibrahim
Navy Sports Club (Probable team):
Kasun de Silva, Amith Gunasinghe, Charith Silva, Nirosh Perera, Gavin Siegartz, Adeesha Weeratunga, Gihan Perera, Radeesha Seneviratne, Richard Dharmapala and Mohamed Abzal, Buddhika Piyaratne, Mushin Faleel, Dinusha Chathuranga, Chathura Seneviratne, Thilina Weerasinghe (captain). Coach: Mothilal Jayathilake