Resolute sailors out to beat the fighting soldiers
Navy SC will face a daunting task when they lock horns with Sri Lanka Army in the Dialog Rugby League second round fixture to be played at Diyagama Stadium this evening. In the first round fixture played at Welisara, Navy on their own backyard was pipped to the post by Army.
On that day Army won 18-17, though Navy scored three tries to Army’s two. Thus Army goes as pre-match favorites to turn the tables on their opponents. But Navy is a determined outfit that will not bow down easily. The match is expected to be another close encounter indeed.
In the current league table Navy has ended up in fourth place and Army is in the sixth place, with two games left for both teams to end the season.
Army’s forte has been throughout the season, is their hardiness. Apart from the game against Navy, they have shown their mastery against Havelocks (first round 22-27), Police (first round: 45-47) and CR and FC (second round: 13-19), losing all three games in close battles. They were so near and yet so far to pull off all three games.
In the last week’s second round clash against the table leaders and redoubtable Kandy SC, Army nearly stunned them with menacing rugby on that day. Though they lost 9-19, they won the hearts of many spectators for their indomitable display. Yet again Army proved they are the fittest outfit of all the clubs in this season.
The Army ‘eight’ led from the front by national player Ashoka Jayalal and rest of the forwards in Sameera Wickramanayake, Dileepa Niroshan, Nalaka Maduranga, Upul Abeyratne, Suramya Herath and deputy skipper Manoj Silva will of course surely give a torrid time to their opponents with their terrific loose play. And their speedy back line is capable of punching holes on Navy defense.
After speaking to Col. Bhatiya Jayaweera, the Secretary of Army Rugby, he mentioned: “Our players are a disciplined outfit. They all are from the Army itself. We don’t posses any renowned players.
They stick to the basics. And we have the least number of yellow cards in the tournament. Though we lost to Kandy in a keenly contested fixture, the way we played have boosted the morale of the team”.
Army so far in the season, in 11 games have won four and lost seven. On the other hand former league champions Navy SC is also not having the best of the seasons. Out of the 11 games played so far, they have won five, drew one and lost five.
The player exodus prior to the commencement of the season indeed put their rugby in rough seas. Players such as Srinath Sooriyabandara, Soyuru Anthony, Vishwamithra Jayasinghe, Chamara Dabare, Reza Mubarak, Sharo Fernando, Bilal Hassan, Achala Perera and Terence Henry all crossing to Kandy SC and Police SC respectively crossing over to other clubs. But yet they possess a good set of players.
For instance players such as Sajith Saranga, Danushka ‘Gertha’ Perera, Sathya Ranatunga (Forwards), Dinusha Chathuranga, Lee Keegal, Saliya Handapangoda, Chanaka Chandimal, Kosala Tissera, Niranjan Wickremaratne (Backs) and the link man Suranga Pushpakumara can cause serious damage to their opponents.
Also with the inclusion of players such as Omalka Guneratne, Heshan Maduranga, Matheesha Sarathchandra, Isuru Kongahawatte, and Buddima Piyarathne has strengthened the Sailors.
But so far in the second round, Navy lost to Police SC (11-16) and CR and FC (25-27) by narrow margins. The interesting fact is they lost to CR in their own fortress, Welisara. And against the Havies they had to settle for a 20-all draw.
Nilufer Ibrahim, the Navy SC coach commented “We know Army will be a different outfit altogether playing at their home territory, and we know of their fitness. They gave a torrid time to Kandy last week. But we will look at all the aspects and field the best available team to count the Army onslaught”
The game will be keenly contested. The team that posses the right finishes on the day will surely clinch the game.
Army SC : Props: Asoka Jayalal(Captain) and Dileepa Niroshan; Hooker: Sameera Wickramanayake; Second Rows: Nalaka Maduranga and Sampath Rosa; Wing forwards: Upul Abeyratne and Suramya Herath; Number Eight: Manoj Silva(Vice captain); Half back: Rizvie Mohammed; Stand-off : Ashan Bandara; Centers: Victor Pradeep and Dinushan Ariyapala; Wings: Madushan Chandrasekera and Thusitha Senanayake; Full Back: Gayan Salinda
Navy SC: Props: Sathya Ranathunga and Roshan Ranasinghe; Hooker: Dulanjana Wijesinghe; Second Rows: Sajith Saranga and Nivantha Prasad; Wing forwards: Danushka Perera( Captain) and Viraj Perera; Number Eight: Omalka Gunaratne; Half back: Richie Dharmapala; Stand-off: Chanaka Chandimal(Vice captain); Centers: Dinusha Fernando and V. Keegal; Wings: Hashan Maduranga and Dinusha Chaturanga; Full Back: Thilina Weerasinghe
Match Referee:
Priyantha Guneratne