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Navy Sports Club, led by Yoshitha Rajapaksa, will be seen in action for the first time in Colombo this season when they scrum down with Colombo Hockey & Football Club (CH&FC) in their inter-club league rugby tournament fixture at Maitland Crescent today.
Navy SC got a lot of attention at the start of the season with the news of a massive recruitment drive. But the team’s star-studded line-up has failed to produce a win so far this season losing to Kandy SC (36-5) and Army SC (15-10) in the first two matches. Today’s match can be termed as a do-or-die affair for the ‘sailors’ who are desperately searching for their first win of the season.
Navy needs to win today if they are to justify their inclusion in the ‘A’ Division rugby tournament, having earlier being made to contest in a qualifier against Old Zahirians SC for the 8th slot of the league tournament.
On paper, Navy SC probably boasts of having the men to contest for the third or fourth position in the points table. Players like skipper Rajapaksa, Suneth Chathuranga, Ravi Jayasuriya, Sumedha Malewana, Pushpakumara, Samantha Lakshan, Nuwan Hettiarachchi and Erande Weerakkody are players who possess the skill to take the ball over the try line, even during the most challenging circumstances.
Navy SC will be sans their lanky lock forward Manjula Ruwantileke who is injured. He is replaced by Sehan Deen.
From the hosts’ perspective, this will certainly be the first match this season where they will encounter a stiff opposition. CH will field the same eight that formed the team’s forwards at their last outing where they vanquished Havies 56-6.
Centre Shane Fernando, who came in as a replacement in the last match, has been named in the starting line-up. CH has so far beaten Police SC (39-15) and Havelocks Sports Club.
In another match that is scheduled at Ratmalana, today, Air Force host Police Sports Club.
The Teams –
Colombo Hockey & Football Club:
Jayantha Ranaweera, Achala Perera (Captain), Sathya Ranatunga, Damith Perera, Dinesh Sanjeewa, Wasamba Senaratne, Sharo Fernando, Dilanka Wijesekera, Tuan Shamrock, Sajith Mallikarachchi, Ajith Upawansa, Shane Fernando, Ruchika Fernando, Lakala Perera and Milinda Jayasinghe
Navy Sports Club:
M. Suranga, Suneth Chathuranga, P. Manchanayake, Nuwan Bandara, Sehan Deen, Yoshitha Rajapaksa (Captain), Ravi Jayasuriya, Sumedha Malewana, D. Pushpakumara, Samantha Lakshan, Ishan Edirimanne, Dulip Methruwan, Erande Weerakkody, Dilshan Devananda and Nuwan Hettiarachchi.
