The Navy Sports Club will once again go out as favourites as they have the edge over their opponents when they take on one of the most unpredictable teams this season in Army Sports Club, in their SLR ‘A’ Division Inter-Club League Rugby tournament first-round match at Havelock ground in Havelock Park today at 4.15 pm.
Navy SC kicked off this season, losing to the formidable Havelocks SC (5-21), Kandy SC (30-35), CH and FC (22-28), and Air Force Sports Club by a whisker (10-12); but beat a fighting CR & FC (18-10) and Police SC (12-0) in the ongoing League Rugby tournament.
Meanwhile, Army after holding young CR to a 16 all draw, lost to formidable Havies (14-36), CH and FC (23-33), and Army (5-12), hence will have to watch out for the opposition’s speedy three quarters and have to match their opponents really well to prevent Navy from scoring through their famous three-quarter moves. The Navy has the upper hand over Army when it comes to the two three quarter lines; while the superior Navy also has the edge over the Army forward pack. Hence an interesting tussle for supremacy can be expected in today’s game.
Navy will be led by young Sri Lanka sevens skipper Adeesha Weerathunga with Chathura Seneviratne as their playmaker. They are coached by ex Preterite and Sri Lanka skipper cum Sri Lanka national coach Leonard De Silva.
Fly-half Ashan Bandara will be Army’s Playmaker, while full-back Gayan Salinda will captain Army with former Nepal national Men’s and Women’s seven a side head coach Radhika Hettiarachchi will be their head coach.
Navy SC (Probable XV): Lahiru Pavithra, Amith Gunasinghe, MCJ Silva, Adeesha Weerathunga (Captain), Nirosh Perera, Yoshitha Rajapaksa, Janith Laksara, Raveen De Silva, Harsha Maduranga, and, Janik Chandimal, Thanuja Maduranga, Supun Dilshan, Lahiru Herath, Chathura Senevirathne, Thilina Weerasinghe, Head Coach: Leonard De Silva, Assistant Coach: Saliya Handapangoda
Army SC (Probable XV): Kalum Madusanka, Chalika Sadaruwan, Buddhi Srimantha, Nalaka Maduranga, Thirusha Adikaram, Nalan Deshappriya, Chameera Silva, Vinod Kumar, Wasantha Kumarasinghe and Ashan Bandara, Sudaraka Dikkumbura, Danushka Talwatte, Lasantha Kumara, Niroshan Jayakodi, Gayan Salinda (Captain), Head coach: Radhika Hettiarachchi, Assistant coach: Anuranga Walpola