Service teams to offer stiff challenge to elite clubs in 2011

by Ranjan ANANDAPPA

RUGBY: The Armed Forces, particularly the Navy and Air Force have thickened their cushions to face the 2011 club rugby season. The rugby fans should witness a level playing field where Kandy and CR&FC who have been dominating the rugby season for over a decade, will face a fierce challenge from the armed forces specially the Navy and Air Force.

The sailors made a big impact in the 2009 season and fared even better this year, where they again finished third in the league and made a sensational entry in the Clifford Cup final by overcoming the CR&FC 19-12 in the semi-final. They should make a bigger impact next year with the recruitment of some outstanding school ruggerites-Mohamed Nazmy and Shanon Armstrong (Trinity), Chamara Dabare (Royal), the Peterite duo of winger Lakith Perera and lock-forward Soyuru Anthony and Thomian centre Shaveen Kapuwatte with Ronnie Abrahim to guide them once again.

With Chairman Rugby Commodore N.K.D. Nanayakkara and the rugby loving Commander of the Navy Vice Admiral Thisara Samarasinghe giving them all the encouragement, the sailors should be front runners for the title.

With seasoned campaigners Yositha Rajapaksa, hooker Ransith Pieris, Kalana Amarasinghe, Tyronne Harison, Piyumal Manchanayake, Suranga Pushpakumara, Dev Anand, Chula Susantha, Nuwan Hettiarachchi, Eranda Weerakkody and Niranjan Wickremaratne being available once again, it will be a tremendous boost for the sailors next year. They have been further strengthened with CH&FC and Sri Lanka prop forward Sathya Ranatunga, joining them.

The Airmen who were a force to be reckoned with in the rugby arena in the 1970s and 80s could not live upto expectations since their return to competitive rugby in 1996 after a 6-year gap due to the Eelam War. But this year Air Force produced some eye catching rugby where they went down fighting to the mighty Kandy SC 6-14 at Ratmalana and CR&FC 13-18 at Longden Place. They lost to the formidable Navy in identical fashion (5-6) in both league games while recording three good wins over CH&FC, Army and Havelocks SC.

In the Clifford Cup knock-out tournament, the Airmen gave a good display although losing 24-27 to Kandy at Bogambara.

Experienced players Saumya Silva, Pradeep Kurukulasuriya, Dinesh Weeraratne, Chanaka Chandimal, Charith Seneviratne, Gayan Iddamalgoda along with former CH&FC player Milinda Jayasinghe, Mithun Hapugoda, Wasamba Senerath, Sajith Adikaram and Dumith Perera were the key players in their resurgence. For the Clifford Cup, they were strengthened by the inclusion of former Sri Lanka fullback Radhika Hettiarachchi, Ex-Sri Lanka prop Jayantha Ranaweera and lock-forward, Navinda Pullikuttiarachchi and four national youth players who represented Kingswood-Rajitha Sansoni, Prabath Jayalath, Chetiya Wadugodapitiya and Uchita Jayasuriya, the Airmen should be leading contenders for the league title next year under the guidance of Imthishah Marikkar their dedicated coach.