Havies hosts Air Force in season opener

By Shamseer Jaleel

Havies skipper Azmir Fajudeen

Air Force skipper Parakrama Rathnayake

Havelock Sports Club will be led by former Royal College hooker Azmir Fajudeen when they host Sri Lanka Air Force led by Parakrama Rathnayake in their Nippon Major Rugby League 2023/2024 opening encounter which will be kicked off under lights at Havelock Park on 1 December.

Kick-off is scheduled at 6.30 p.m.

Havies, filled up with youth and talent is fortunate to have majority of their players once again loyal towards the Park Club this season as well. They will be coached by Saliya Kumara who also handles the Isipathana outfit. Havies have signed up with some outstanding schoolboys such as Sudesh Jayawickrema (St. Peter’s) and Jayathu Rajarathna (D.S.) for this season. Shenal Dias with his experience will help out Havies this season. Meanwhile Sri Lanka Air Force, which is led by former Sylvestrian Prakarama Ratnayake, got some fine players such as Sharaka Weralla, Ishara Madushan and Gayantha Iddamalgoda. This will be Air Force Head Coach Asela Deshapriya’s first A division game as a club coach.

CR, another major title contender will be under former Peterite Sohiru Anthony will be against Sri Lanka Army at Panagoda. The Red Shirts will be at full strength with players such as Adeesha Weerathunge, Eranga Ariyapala and Randy Silva joining the Longdon Place club. They will miss out on Chathura Seneviratne who is in the UK at present. Dushantha Lewke is the Head Coach of the Longdon Place Club. CR and FC is fortunate to have the former Trinity Ryde Gold medallist who led the school in both cricket and rugby as their President. 

Soldiers are led by former Vidyartha player Ashan Bandara and they have some class acts such as Sudaraka Dikkumbura, Nalaka Maduranga and Chamath Fernando in their starting line-up. Shamly Nawas will be their Head Coach this season.

Mohan Wimalarathne led Police have taken in veteran Mithun Hapugoda and Hirantha Perera which could make a world of difference for the outfit coached by top class player and Coach Nilfer Ibrahim. They also have Lahiru Thilakaratne, Amjad Faumy in their outfit who could make the difference at home ground. Meanwhile Thilina Weerasinghe led Sailors are a young outfit with the majority of them being school leavers lacking experience but full of fresh blood. They have Dananjaya Seneviratne, Pramuditha Epa, Gayan Anurudha and Chanaka Jayalath who could put up a good show. They will be coached by Viper (jnr) Gunaratne.

Meanwhile CH and FC under Avishka Lee will be up in the Hills facing the defending champions, Kandy SC at Nittawela. CH are fortunate to have Hirusha Sampath, the former Kingswoodian who occupies the fly half position who is a good reader of the game. Ravindu Anjula Hettiarachchi and Nirosh Perera are other stars in their outfit. They can’t ask any more as they have got the best and top class Coach Sanath Martis to look after them.

Kandy SC is led by Lavanga Perera and got almost the entire XV which represented them last year. Last season’s skipper, Damith Dissanayake will miss out as he has migrated to Canada. Tharinda Ratwatte, Srinarth Sooriyabandara, Dhanushka Ranjan and Nigel Ratwatte are the stars in the Up Country outfit. Kandy SC, Trustee, Malik Samarawickrema resigned recently and it’s interesting to see how the club fairs this season.

1 December 

Havelock SC vs Sri Lanka Air Force at Havelock Park

Referee Gihan Yatawara

2 December 

Army SC vs CR and FC at Panagoda

Referee Raveen Alexander

Police SC vs Navy SC at Police Park

Referee Ishanka Abeykoon

3 December 

Kandy SC vs CH and FC at Nittawela

Referee Priyantha Gunaratne

Night match at 6.30 p.m.

Day matches at all three venues at 3.45 p.m.