Terrific CR-CH battle in President's Trophy final

by Lal Gunesekera

RUGBY: Matches between CR & FC and CH & FC have always been looked forward to by not only the respective club supporters but also rugby enthusiasts. This evening at the Mecca of rugby in Sri Lanka - Longdon Place, these two traditional rivals clash with each other in the final of the President's Trophy Knock-Out Championship which was revived after a lapse of six years.

The kick-off is scheduled for 4.30 p.m.

Their march towards today's final has been rather interesting. CR had two close wins over the Army (24-20) in the quarter-finals and also over Havelocks (18-8) in the semi-finals. On the other hand, CH beat Police (12-6) in the "quarters" while trouncing Kandy Sports Club (59-8) in the "semis" in which the champion outfit fielded a development squad much to the anger of the spectators and disappointment of the Sri Lanka Rugby Football Union (SLRFU).

Thus, it all points to a thrilling evening of top notch rugby that the rugby hungry spectators are looking forward to. I hope that they will not be disappointed and with sides will be at full strength and predicting a winner is rather difficult.

During the Caltex League Championships, CR beat CH 19-13 at Maitland Crescent in the first-round, while the "return" clash at Longdon Place ended in a 10-all draw. The inaugural tournament far back in 1977 saw CR emerge champions and they last won in 1998 under Champika Nishantha beating Kandy Sports Club (30-26). They have won the President's Trophy on four occasions. CH won the trophy from 1990 to 1994.

Today's confrontation is certain to be a terrific clash for supremacy. CR seems to have an edge with a terrific set of forwards led by Anuradha Dharmatilleke with assistance from Shamil Mohamed, Swarnatilleke, Henry Terrance and the third-row comprising Ashan Karthelis, Navin Wijetunga at No. 8 and Senthil Kumar.

CR's outsides too have some powerful runners in wingers Dinesh Kumara and Ravindra Wekadapola, while centres Lasintha de Costa and Mohamed Sheriff too capable of breaking through the CH defence. The red shirts also possess a fine halves combination in Zulki Hameed and Ashane de Costa, but possession will play a major role in victory or defeat.

CH too possess some hardy players in the pack in skipper Jayantha Ranweera, Sashika Cooray, Manjula Ruwantilleke, Sumedha Malewana, Asanga Thalagalaarachchi and Dilanka Wijesekera (if he does play). The threes too have some good runners in Lakala Perera, Matheesha de Silva and Niroshan Ekanayake with Dinuk de S. Wijeratne capable of forming the overlap in attack.

CR & FC: Shamil Mohamed, Anuja Perera, Swarnatilleke, Henry Terrance, Anuradha Dharmatilleke (captain), Ashan Karthelis, Navin Wijetunga, Senthil Kumar, Zulki Hameed, and Ashane de Costa, Dinesh Kumara, Mohamed Sheriff, Lasintha de Costa, Ravindra Wekadapola and Radhika Hettiaratchi.

CH & FC: Jayantha Ranaweera (captain), Achala Perera, Sashika Cooray, Dinesh Sanjeewa, Navinda Pullikuttiaratchi or Manjula Ruwantilleke, Asanga Thalagalaaratchi, Sumedha Malewana, W. Senarath or Dilanka Wijesekera, Tuan Shamrock and Sajith Bandara, Lakala Perera, Matheesha de Silva, Rukshan Wijesinghe, Niroshan Ekanayake or Niranjan Jayasinghe, Dinuk de S. Wijeratne.

Referee: Aruna Jayasekera