Army will field a young side this year

by Ranjeeva Seneviratne

RUGBY: The Sri Lanka Army which was in the forefront of club rugby during the period 1999 to 2002 will field a side laden with youngsters this year.

During that period Army's rugby reached great heights but from 2004 their rugby standard declined with several top players hanging up their boots while some others were deployed for duty in operational areas.

Army's rugby renaissance began in 1999 when under the leadership of Kapila Knowlton and coached by New Zealander Kelvin Farrington the soldiers won eight matches out of 14 in the 'A' Division League and finished in fourth position.

In the year 2000 the soldiers led by Ajith Peiris won seven games in the 'A' Division League and stormed into the Clifford Cup final by beating Havelocks (24-23) and CH and FC (25-24) in the quarter-finals and semi-finals respectively before losing to mighty Kandy SC (12-39) in the final.

In 2001 the soldiers led by J. M. Jayatilleke enjoyed a marvellous season emerging runners up of the Caltex 'A' Division League by winning 12 matches out of 14 and also stormed into the Clifford Cup final before losing to Kandy SC (16-17) by a whisker in the final.

In 2002 Army captained by Ajit Peiris had another superb season winning 10 matches out of 14 to finish third and made a sensational entry into the Clifford Cup final with a stunning 25-22 win over the formidable CR and FC in the semi-final before going down fighting to Kandy SC (19-26) in the final.

This year the soldiers will field a young side and will have the services of only six senior players - Prop forward Meepage who has been playing for the Army for the last four years has been entrusted with the task of leading the soldiers this year.

He will bind down in the front row with seasoned campaigner Kotelawala with either Perera or Nanayakkara filling the hooker's berth. The trio of Jayasena, Ratnayake and Susantha will battle it out for the lock forwards positions. Sturdily built former Sri Lanka flanker, Herathge Karunaratne will play in the unaccustomed position of number eight while Silva and Kobbekaduwa are likely to occupy the flanker berths.

Young Saliya Handapangoda will operate from the base of the scrum and will pair off with ex-Sri Lanka player Kapila Knowlton who is a hard runner and a solid tackler.

Sri Lanka sevens player Roshan Perera will be one of the centres with Duminda Wickremaratne and Upali Wickremasinghe fighting it out for the other place. Perakum Fernando who has stood out with his powerful runs down the flank will occupy one wing while Sampath Wijesuriya Maurice and veteran Vajira Jayatilleke are the trio battling for the other berth.

Sri Lanka's number one full back T. A. Silva who has stood out with his safe collections and booming kicks to touch and excellent place-kicking will once again man the last line of defence.