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| Kandy winger Sanjeewa Jayasinghe plants a try under the posts against Police while playing in Colombo. Today, they would be a stiffer opposition to CH while playing in their own backyard. (Pic by Ranjith Perera) |
CH and FC face Kandy in a crucial Caltex powered Inter club Division One League tie at Nittawela today. This match is of vital importance especially to the visitors.
The Colombo Club led by Hooker Achala Perera started off the season with a couple of exceptional performances so much so that many rugby pundits wondered if the normal two horse race (Kandy and CR and FC) for the league plum could turn out to be three cornered one, after about five years. However, last week’s shock defeat to Navy has severely undermined CH and FC’s credentials to mount a serious challenge to the top two.
Thus this match in essence is a must win game for the visitors who on paper have the fire power to upset the champions. For any club to beat Kandy, they have to mark Sri Lankan stand off Fazil Marija. The Kandy playmaker is both a line breaker and game breaker. Marija is at his peak and generally is responsible for setting Kandy’s star studded back division in motion.
Pradeep Liyanage leads the hosts and has the support of veterans Sanjeewa Jayasinghe and Radhika Hettiarachchi, and the talented Gayan Weeraratne and Sameera Silva to work with. Such is Kandy’s depth in the back division that utility back Mohamed Sheriff is on the bench.
CH and FC’s strength is their forwards with the likes of Dilanka Wijesekera, Sharo Fernando and Dinesh Sanjeewa in their ranks. However, Avantha Hettiarachchi will have to keep his brother Radhika in check and Lakala Perera and Sajith Bandara will have to be at their best if CH and FC are to pull off the upset of the season.
The Teams: Kandy SC from; Kishor Jehan, Anuranga Walpola, Eranga Suwarnathilake, Senaka Bandara, Sean Wijesinghe, Sajith Saranga, Buddika Thalagampola, Saliya Kumara. Fazil Marija, Sanjeewa Jayasinghe, Gayan Weeraratna, Pradeep Liyanage (Captain), Sameera Silva, Radika Hettiarachchie, Mohamed Shariff, Pudima Dissanayake, Kasun Yasaisuru, Dilip Selvam, Prasad Chathuranga, Aravinda Udangamuwa, N. Karunaratne, D. Gunathilake, Danushka Pushpakumar, Gayan Ratnage, Ruchira Ratnage, Krishantha Rajapakse, Shashiaka Jayawardena, M.Godigamuwa, M. Wijeyratne. Kusal Rankoth and Dilaksh Charmara
CH and FC from; Jayantha Ranaweera, Achala Perera (Captain), Sathiya Ranathunga, Wasaba Senarath, Dinesh Sanjeewa, Senthil Kumar, Sharo Fernando, Dilanka Wjesekera, Ranjan Baddegama, Sajith Bandara, Lakala Perera, Avantha Hettiarachi, Ruchika Fernando, Ajith Upewansa, Asanka Perera, Sajith Adikari, Damith Perera, Bilal Hassen, Gayashan Perera, Omar Hassen, Heshan Gunarathna, Milinda Jayasinghe, Mithun Hapugodage and Nuwan Basnayaka.
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