Sailors holds the edge

Nippon Paint Clifford Cup knock out semi-final 2

Thursday, 2 March 2023 01:39 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Harsha Masuranga had an outstanding season for Sailors

Navy Sports Club will be all out for a win when they meet the unpredictable Soldiers in their Nippon Paint Inter Club Clifford Cup knock out rugby 2nd semi-final encounter which will take place at the Race Course ground today.

Kick-off is scheduled at 4 p.m.

Navy Sports Club did really well to finish third placed in the league behind champions, Kandy SC and CR and FC. After Kandy SC and CH and FC pulled out from the event Sailors were promoted as the number 2 ranked team.

Navy got some outstanding players in their line-up. Harsha Maduranga, Musheen Faleel, Thilina Weerasinghe are stand-out players this season for the Welisara outfit. Harsha Maduranga the former Isipathana player being outstanding in his play plus led the team with a lot of leadership qualities. His decision making is spot on.

The kicking abilities they have of Samuel Maduwantha and Thilina Weerasinghe in their starting line-up is a dream for any coach both being top in their job. Head Coach, Saliya Kumara has done a yeoman service for the Sailors in his very first season will be a major threat for CR and Kandy SC outfits in the next season. Meanwhile Soldiers are giant killers. They ended on number 7 only ahead of CH in the league but on their day capable of toppling any side. Ashan Bandara, Sudaraka Dikumbura and Mohamed Akram are the main weapons Soldiers will be using in today's game. They toppled the defending champions, Havies, in their quarter final encounter.

Army SC from

Rangana Sooriyarachchi, Danilsha Dissanayake, Srimantha Dinulalage, Nalaka Naduranga, Thirusha Adikaram, Nalan Premanath, Kaveen Perera, Chalika Nandaruwan, Mohamed Rifan, Chamath Fernando, Lahiru Ratnayake, Ashan Bandara, Lasantha Ratnayake, Kavindu Amarasiri and Sudharaka Dikkumbura.

Navy SC from

Charith Silva, Pulasti Dassanayake, Deshan Vimukthi. Dhananjaya Seneviratne, Nirosh Perera, Gihan Perers, Adeesha Weerathunge, Janith Laksara, Harsha Maduranga, Dinesh de Silva, Thilina Weerasinghe, Musheen Faleel. Lahiru Herath, Gayan Anuruddha and Samuel Maduwantha.

Referee will be Ishanka Abeykoon and Assistant Referees are Gihan Yatawara and Isuru Perera.