Race tightens as CH and CR clash in important Cup segment battle

Friday, 6 February 2026 02:01 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

By Shamseer Jaleel

Meitetsu Shimizu to blow two Cup encounters this weekend

Second-placed CH & FC will lock horns with third-placed CR & FC in an important Cup segment clash of the Inter-Club Rugby League at the Racecourse Grounds on 8 February.

Kick-off is scheduled for 4 p.m.

With the title race finely poised, this high-stakes encounter is expected to have a major bearing on the championship outcome going in to its final week before the Super Round has been played between the first and second-placed teams.

CH & FC enter the contest with renewed confidence after producing two spirited performances against defending champions Kandy Sports Club. Under the leadership of Janidu Dilshan, the Gymkhana Club held Kandy to successive draws – 24–24 at Nittawela in a controversial game with a disallowed try drama and 34–34 at Racecourse.

Those performances have injected momentum into CH’s Super Round campaign. Their team boasts a well-balanced outfit across the park. Skipper Dilshan has led from the front, while Fijian No. 8 Koli Thamanikalu has been influential in contact and at the breakdown. Maliksha Perera provides stability up front, with fly-half Janith Chandimal’s accuracy off the tee ensuring consistent returns on scoreboard pressure.

CR & FC, meanwhile, will be keen to bounce back after an uneven outing against Havelock Sports Club. Despite that setback, the Longdon Place outfit remains firmly in contention and will view this fixture as an opportunity to reassert their championship credentials.

Fijian number 8 Koli Tamanikalu will play a major role for CH

Led by playmaker Lasindu Karunathilake and supported by experienced campaigners Mursheed Doray and Chamoth Muthunayake, CR possess the attacking flair and experience to trouble any opposition. The return of dependable Thenuka Nanayakkara is a timely boost, though fitness concerns around Omalka Gunaratne and Naveen Marasinghe cleared its wait and see if they perform to their best. All three players’ absence showed a huge vacuum for the Longdon Place Club against the Park Club encounter.

With both teams evenly matched and desperate to stake their claim in the Cup segment, a fiercely contested battle is expected. Played for the Hadji Omar Trophy on aggregate, and officiated by Japanese Referee Meitetsu Shimizu, this Super Round encounter promises intensity, discipline, and a genuine 50-50 contest. CH are leading from their close first round encounter.