CR and FC look well set to pull off their second win this season when they confront Police SC in the SLR Nippon Paint Inter-Club League Rugby Tournament fixture at Longden Place today.
CR have already got off to a good start in their landmark Centenary year and are hoping to regain the league championship after more than two decades having last emerged champions way back in 1998.
But having considered their performances in the two previous outings, the Red Shirts seemed to have the talent and the potential with them to last the full distance and make it a memorable season.
In contrast, Police SC are at the bottom of the points table having lost both games and will be determined to make an impact as they look to get back into winning ways.
Despite losing both games, Police SC could certainly look back with a great amount of satisfaction as they were in with a chance of winning on both occasions. In fact, the Cops were leading at half time in the curtain-raiser match against Navy SC at Welisara before going down 7-15 and once again they led almost until the final whistle, and it was an injury-time try that pushed them to a 23-25 defeat against Army SC at Ratmalana.
Police SC would also look to draw inspiration from their last year’s performance where they triumphed 20-3 against a depleted CR and FC team at the Police Park with a try each from Deshan Fernando, Vihanga Pivithuru and Danushka Edirisuriya.
No doubt, CR and FC had an ordinary season last year but this time they have really lifted their game and are looking to continue their good form having defeated the traditional rivals Havelock SC 23-21 in their opening encounter and after going down narrowly against the defending champions Kandy SC (11-13) at Longden Place last week.
CH and FC v Army SC
Army SC will look to produce another giant-killing performance when they take on the CH and FC in their SLR Nippon Paint Inter-Club League Rugby Tournament match at the Racecourse Grounds in Colombo today. Army SC produced a magnificent performance last week to beat Police SC 25-23 at Ratmalana thanks to an injury-time try by their dynamic wing three quarter Sudaraka Dikkumbura. CH and FC will also take the field brimming with confidence as they had the satisfaction of overcoming Navy SC 34-20 in their previous outing at the Racecourse Grounds in Colombo. Last year too, the two teams figured in a fascinating contest where the CH and FC survived a fierce late rally to pull off a hard-fought 33-23 victory at Havelock Park.