Army seek to sink Navy in tough battle

By Shamseer Jaleel

The club rugby league will move towards its fourth week, with the pick of the encounters being between an unbeaten Navy and Army at the racecourse rugby grounds this Saturday.

The Navy outfit has so far been playing cohesive rugby, winning all their three outings against Police, CR&FC and CH&FC and head into this game holding an edge over their opponents. Dinusha Fernando, Dhanushka Perera, Suranga Pushpakumara are all class acts. While the soldiers will rely heavily on skipper Manoj Silva, hooker Jayalal and Gayan Salinda to take them through.

Week 4 will commence on 25 November with unbeaten Havelocks hosting CH&FC at Havelock Park. Havelocks have already produced some outstanding performances against Air Force, Police and CR&FC. They will rely on Dulaj Perera, Sharo Fernando, Sudharshan Muthuthanthri and Mithun Hapugoda, who have been playing some champagne rugby this season. 

CH&FC, who are coached by former Navy player Namal Rajapaksa, will probably look to defend for most of this game.

Kandy will be hosting their second home game in Nittawela when they welcome lowly-placed Police. Kandy opened the season with a bang, outclassing CH&FC 96-0 before being shocked by the Air Force outfit in Ratmalana. 

This defeat came after a lapse of more than three decades. The upcountry outfit bounced back with a 34-10 win over the soldiers last weekend in Colombo, coming back into form and showing their clear intention of retaining the league once more. Playing at home against a weaker opponent, Kandy will aim for a dominant win and bonus point this weekend. Dhanuska Ranjan, Shehan Pathirana, Fazil Marija, Arsahrd Jamaldeen and Richard Dharmapala will all be at their peak in front of their appreciative home crowd. Their new recruit Jason Dissanayake will need clearance from his former club CR&FC to play while Police will depend on Reza Rafaideen, Sansoni and Musheen Faleel to put up some solid defence to keep from Kandy from scoring freely.

The last game of the weekend will see CR&FC hosting the high-riding airmen at Longden Place. CR, under Shane Sambandapermua, Shashan Mohamed, Reza Mubarak and Tariq Salley, hold the edge over their opponents. 

November 25

Havelocks vs. CH&FC at Havelock Park.Referee: Ajith Kumara

November 26

Army vs. Navy at racecourse. Referee: Aruna Rankothge

Police vs. Kandy at Nittawela.Referee: Dinka Peiris

November 27

CR&FC vs. Airforce at Longden Place. Referee: Priyantha Gunaratne

TMO Shamrath Fernando