Kandy SC have the edge over Police in second semi-final

By Ranjeeva SENEVIRATNE

Police Sports Club which scored a stunning 18-17 win over the more fancied CH and FC last Saturday face the daunting task of overcoming defending champions Kandy Sports Club in the second semi-final of the Caltex Inter-club knock-out Rugby Tournament for the Clifford Cup at Nittawela today. The kick off is scheduled for 4.30 p.m.

The policemen came up with a courageous display in the second round match of the Caltex ‘A’ Division League against Kandy SC at Police Park in which they led 11-5 till midway in the second half before losing 11-29 but today they face the tough task of overcoming the mighty Kandy SC on their home grounds at Nittawela.

The forte of the Policemen have been their power-packed forwards Nishantha Welagedara, Malith Hettiarachchi, Asela Vithana, Nalin Archarige, Pradeep Wilson and skipper Nilusha Fernando who are capable of matching upto the marauding Kandy ‘eight’ especially Jeewa Galgamuwa, Kishore Jehan, Sumedha Jayasinghe, Imran Bisthamin and Dilip Selvam who have given a sterling display in the loose.

But Kandy SC with a superior back division should be able to make the maximum use of the ‘good ball’ which comes their way with the Sri Lanka halves combination of Saliya Kumara and Fazil Marija hitting it off smoothly.

Centres Pradeep Liyanage and Gayan Weeraratne have time and again breached the opponent’s defence with their probing runs but the biggest threat to the policemen will be posed by winger Sanjeeva Jayasinghe with his powerful runs down the flank having scored a hat-trick of tries against Police in the return match at Police Park.

The teams:

Kandy SC: Jeewa Galgamuwa, Anuranga Walpola, Kishore Jehan, Sumedha Jayasinghe, Sean Wanigasekera, Dilip Selvam, Sean Wijesinghe (Captain), Imran Bisthamin, Saliya Kumara and Fazil Marija, Sanjeeva Jayasinghe, Gayan Weeraratne, Pradeep Liyanage, Sameera Silva or Kusal Rankothge, Radhika Hettiarachchi.

Police: Nishantha Welagedera, Malith Hettiarachchi, Sivadasan, Nalin Archarige, Asela Vithana, Gemunu Indrachapa or U. B. Gonawala, Nilusha Fernando (captain), Pradeep Wilson, Milinda Bandara and Harshana Wijeweera, Asith Nilanga, Chula Susantha, Priyantha Ekanayake, Susith Randima and Jeevan Amaradasa.