CR and FC at full strength for Clifford Cup Tourney

by Ranjeeva Seneviratne

RUGBY: Runners up of the Caltex 'A' Division League CR and FC will be at full strength with the return of centre Lasintha de Costa and flanker Ashen Karthelis for the quarter-final of the Caltex inter-club knock-out Rugby Tournament for the Clifford Cup against Air Force on August 8 at Police Park.

De Costa and Karthelis who missed the second round matches of the 'A' Division League have recovered from their injuries and will turn out for the Red Shirts in the Clifford Cup Tournament. Lasintha will play in his pet position of centre alongside Mohamed Sheriff while Sri Lanka flanker Karthelis will play either in the third row or as a lock forward.

CR and FC which has clinched the Clifford Cup - club rugby's richest prize on 14 occasions emerged runners up last year losing to Kandy SC by 5-16 in the final at Nittawela having won the trophy in 2006 with a smashing 37-5 win over Havelocks in the final.

Havelocks Sports Club which finished third in the Caltex 'A' Division League have decided to drop four senior players for not attending practices. Former skipper and prop forward Shafi Hassen, experienced hooker Rajiv Perera, former Sri Lanka No. 8 Rajiv Ganapathy and burly lock forward Chathuranga Amerasinghe are likely to be left out of the park club team for the quarter-final match against Army on August 10 at Police Park.

"Several talented youngsters are attending practices and they might replace the senior players who have been left out", said a club official.

The schedule: Quarter-finals

(a) CR and FC vs Air Force at Police Park on August 8

(b) Kandy SC vs Galle RFC at Nittawela on August 9

(c) CH and FC vs Police at Police Park on August 9

(d) Havelocks vs Army at Police Park on August 10.

Semi-finals

(e) Winners of (a) vs winners of (d) at Longden Place on August 15

(f) Winners of (b) vs winners of (c) at Nittawela on August 17

Final at Nittawela or Longden Place on August 24.