CR and Havies eye winning start to Nippon Rugby League
The traditional rivals CR and FC and Havelock SC will look for a winning start when they clash in their 2022/23 SLR Nippon Paint Inter-Club League Rugby Tournament opening fixture on December 10 at Havelock Park.
Both CR and the Havies have figured in some of the most fascinating club rugby matches in the recent past and this game should also turn out to be a real blockbuster as they vie for the coveted Mathysz Trophy. For CR and FC this game will be even more significant as they begin the new rugby season at the time when the Longden Place Club is celebrating their Centenary year.
Led by Kavinda de Costa, CR and FC are fielding an outfit studded with youth and experience and will be determined to start their campaign in style.
In fact, CR and FC had the satisfaction of winning the Mathysz Trophy during the previous season on an aggregate of 52-47 after both teams figured in two exciting games during the league tournament. Havelock SC won a high-scoring first round game 30-22 on their home grounds
with Shawketh Lahir leading from the front with two magnificent tries and supported by a try each from Umeshka Dilshan and Sven Muller.
However, in a dramatic turn of events, CR and FC came on firing all cylinders in the second-round fixture to score five tries as they pulled off a sensational 30-17 victory at Longden Place.
Janidu Dilshan was the star for the CR and FC with two brilliant tries while Omalka Gunarathne, Riza Rafaideen and Dinuk Amarasinghe scored a try each to help the CR and FC complete a memorable game. This time Havelock SC will be captained by Umesha Madushan and will look to exploit their home advantage to get the season off to a great start.
Meanwhile, the defending champions and the favourites Kandy SC will come out for the first time this season when they take on Army SC in their opening encounter at the Nittawela Stadium on December 11.
The eight captains of the participating teams: Damith Dissanayake (Kandy SC), Kavinda de Costa (CR and FC), Mahesh Weerasinghe (Army SC), Nisala Sathsara (Police SC), Prasad Madushan (CH and FC), Umesha Madushan (Havelock SC), Ishara Madushan (Air Force SC) and Stephan Gregory (Navy SC).
The first week fixtures:
December 9: Navy SC v Police SC at Welisara.
December 10: Havelock SC v CR and FC at Havelock Park.
December 11: Kandy SC v Army SC at Nittawela, Air Force SC v CH and FC at Ratmalana.