Nippon Paint Inter Club Rugby 2022
By Shamzeer Jaleel
Nippon Paint coming in
and propping up with Sri Lanka Rugby (SLR) the league too in the Cup and Plate
segment heated up with only two more weeks left in the 2022 edition.
Hats off to the defending champions, Kandy Sports Club players, coaching staff
headed by Fazil marija for the magnificent performance put up so far despite
losing majority of their forwards this season. Meanwhile Havies as usual are in
safe hands till experienced Sanath Martis is around the Park Club. He has made
the boys in to Men and only a few can do that.
Air Force hold the
edge
Sri Lanka Air Force will be up against Sri Lanka Army after losing out to CR in
their last game which has put the Plate segment in to an opportunity for three
leading teams to grab the trophy. Air Force are currently lying at number two
position in the Plate segment while the Soldiers are at the rock bottom with 10
points.
Air Force heavily depend on skipper, Nuwan Perera, Gayantha Iddamalgoda and
Faris Ali. Coached by Shamlie Nawas they can turn table on any team. Meanwhile
the Solders outfit coached by Radhika Hettiarachchi fired all guns at Kandy in
their league encounter but lost all energy afterwards.
Nalaka Maduranga, Gayan Salinda and Sudaraka Dikkumbura are some top-class
players. They will need to coordinate with their forwards and three quarters
and put up a solid performance in this game.
Match day and
Venue
1 April at Havelock Park
Referee Gihan Yatawara
Navy hold the edge
Sri Lanka Navy SC will be all out to continue their lead in the Plate segment
when they confront the Red Shirts at Longdon Place.
CR looks and unpredictable outfit when they beat Sri Lanka Air Force in their
last encounter while the Sailors got the better of Solders. At present Navy
lead the Plate table with 19 points while CR is on third place at 15 points.
One game could change the whole apple cart upside down which is good for the
game as no team can relax till the end.
Adeesha Weeratunge led Sailors will heavily depend on Thilina Weerasinghe,
Samuel Maduwantha and Radeesha Seneviratne. Meanwhile Yoshitha Rajapakse will
be playing his last club game for Navy SC as he is expected to retire after 15
years of club rugby.
Meanwhile CR will depend on Supun Warunakulasuriya, Sabar brothers and Kavindu
de Costa to bounce back and show some pride in a club which has lot of value on
and off the field led by former Royal 1982 skipper and President Ted Muttiah
who is doing everything possible to end on a win in the Plate segment and to
show some fighting qualities at the sevens and Clifford Cup later on next
month.
Match day and Venue
2 April at Longdon Place
Referee Aaqil Jamaldeen
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