All roads lead to Nittawela today as the defending league champions Kandy Sports Club led by Damith Dissanayke face Army SC led by Manjula Weerasinghe in their first game of the Sri Lanka Rugby League 2022-2023.
The two sides are coached by experienced hands – Kandy Sports Club by Fazil Marija and Army SC by Ronnie Ibrahim and both are from Kandy. They learnt their rugby at Kingswood College and polished their rugby at Kandy Sports Club and are cousins. Both are happy with their respective teams and are expecting an unrelenting brand of rib bruising rugby.
Kandy SC have the firepower to outgun the Army side and stay on top from start to finish. The battle between the two sets of forwards should in particular be an interesting one and the Kandy SC back division players know how to score points and keep the game under control.
Kandy SC has a fine all-round side and they have the ability to adapt to any pace or pattern and will depend heavily on their talented back division players to deliver the goods. The Nittawela boys had their last work-out on Friday watched by Lasantha Wijasuriya the rugby chairman and team manager Kapila Silva.
Army SC have been training together with over 30 players under the watchful eyes of coach Ronnie Ibrahim and will try to give off their best.
The final XV will be selected just before the kick off. Ravin Alexender will referee this game.
Squads:
Kandy SC - Damith Dissanayake (captain), Nigel Ratwatte, Kavindu Perera, Srinath Sooriyabandara, Tharinda Ratwatte, Lasitha Attanagoda, Heshan Kalhara, Tharindu Chathuranga, Anuruddha Wilvera, Yakoob Ali, Charles Praveen, Malitha Rashmika, Milan Weerasinghe, Lavanga Perera, Oshan Perera, Lakshitha Ranaweera, Thilina Bandara, Diluksha Dange, Chamika Perera, Uchitha Jayasooriya, S. Monishan, Sanushka Abeywickrema, Bawantha Udangamuwa, Heshan Jansen, Chahura Soysa, Bawantha Dharmapala, Asiri Seneviratne, Rumesh Premathilake, Nimesh Premathilake, Sahan Wijesinghe, Dinal Ekanayake, Kavishka Bandara
Army SC - Manjula Weerasinghe (captain), Dhanuka Wijathilaka, Danilsha Dissanayake, Ashan Bandara, Sudaraka Dikkumbura, Akram Mohamed, Nalaka Madurangam, Chathurnaga Zavir, Lasantha Kumara, Rasika Abeynayaka, Thilana Pushpakuamra, Chandramohan Vinodkumar, Srimantha, Sameera Bulathsinhala, Madushanka Ranbandarage, Kelum Warnakulasooriya, Rifan Mohamed, Subodha Samarakoon, Bimsara Perera, Kanishka Thuiyahendi, Thirusha Adikaram, Sachin Gamage, Nalan Premantha, Kaveen Perera, Madusanka Chandrasekara, Isuru Medagedera, Chathuranga Perera, Kavindu Amarasiri, Lahiru Ratnayake, Chalika Sandaruwan, Chinthaka Sandaruwan