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Thursday Dec 12, 2024
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Mithun Hapugoda about to pass in their Armybouting
By Shamseer Jaleel
The Nippon Paint Inter Club Rugby League 2022/2023 will move towards its fifth week with Sri Lanka Navy Sports Club host Sri Lanka Army Sports Club at Welisara today.
Kick-off is scheduled at 4.00 p.m.
Both the Sailors and Soldiers though such two talented outfits they are yet to show their true ability on the field. Sadly, Army is at number five and Navy on number seven out of the eight teams.
Navy SC with ample talent almost humbled Kandy in their home den at Nittawela last weekend. They lacked the territorial game. After having a place kicker of Samuel Maduwantha calibre it's not clear why they did not opt to kick to touch and work from opposition half. They were trying to work their three quarter line from their half which was a tough task against an experienced Kandy three quarter line.
Musheen Faleel, Samuel Maduwantha, Thilina Weerasinghe and Radheesha Senevirathne are their top players. For Army SC they will depend on their skipper, Mahesh Weerasinghe and Sudharaka Dikkumbura who are the two star players in their line-up.
Kandy will start their long journey to one of the three Colombo visits that is to meet the Cops at Police Park. This is not a good time for the Kandy outfit to be in Colombo as the Cops are flying high after their Air Force win while Kandy struggled to beat Air Force and Navy both matches being played at Nittawela.
Kandy will be fielding their best three quarter line but will miss skipper Damith Dissanayake and Diluksha Dange due to injuries. Kavindu Perera, Tharinda Ratwatte, Nigel Ratwatte, Lavanga Perera Danushka Ranjan and Srinarth Sooriyabandara will form the outfit along with ever reliable Praveen Charles and Yakoob forming the young forwards.
Meanwhile the Cops will heavily depend on Yohan Peiris, Nisala Samadhi and Prince Chamara to deliver the goods. After an ordinary start they displayed high quality rugby to stun Air Force at Ratmalana last weekend. Though the Cops are lowly placed at number eight, Kandy will not take them lightly as Kandy too are not at their best this season.
CH-Havelocks game could be a thriller at Racecourse as both teams are evenly matched in three quarters and forwards play. Havies played well in their last three outings including three bonus points. They had a shell shocked start against CR losing out but from that defeat has put the Park Club one level up in order to reclaim the League this year.
For the Park Club, Sandesh Jayawickrema, Christian de Lile and Abdullah Fayiz are quality players and second half appearance of Mithun Hapugoda should put CH under pressure as he has performed very well as the finisher of the game. Avishka Lee, Hirusha Sampath and Avantha Lee are the three star players for the hosts.
Air Force after their shock defeat last weekend will be all out to return to winning formula but CR is no push over though playing at home. Gayantha Iddamalgoda and Nuwan Perera are their star players.
Meanwhile Red Shirts performing well are in third position at present losing only to Kandy in a home game which could prove very expensive later on. Celebrating their Centenary Year, The Red Shirts will all out end the league on a winning note.
Former Kingswoodian, Chathura Seneviratne was outstanding this season with his kick at goal and territory game. His deep touch into opposition half and attack had been a consistent occurring this season.
13 Jan.
Referee Kelum Sandaruwan
14 Jan.
Referee Raveen Alexander
Referee Ishantha Abeykoon
15 Jan.
Referee Hasantha Weranga
