Air Force, Navy eye first win in Rugby League

By M. Shamil Amit and Sandun Kodithuwakku

Air Force Sports Club will take on Navy Sports Club in the second-week opening fixture of the SLR Nippon Paint Inter-Club League Rugby Tournament at Ratmalana Today. The kick-off is at 3.45 p.m.   

Both teams will be looking to register their maiden win of the tournament after having lost their opening fixtures last week.     

The Airmen suffered a humiliating 8-49 defeat at the hands of Havelock SC at Havelock Park while the Sailors were beaten 22-41 by Police SC at the Police Park.  
Navy SC will be led by the experienced Thilina Weerasinghe with fly half Isuru Kongahawatta as his deputy. 

Meanwhile, hooker Parakrama Rathnayake will Captain the Airmen while Number Eight Saraka Warella will be his Deputy. 

The teams

Navy SC: Stephan Gregory, Pradeep Ranaweera, Sudeera Sankalpa, Kavishka Wijerathna, Dhananjaya Senevirathna, Pramuditha Epa, Denuwan Wickramarachchi, Nimsara Chamod, Imanka Ishara and Isuru Kongahawatta, Amith Madusanka, Lahiru Herath, Steven Sonsoni, Dimuth Perera, Thilina Weerasinghe (Captain).

Air Force SC (from): Manuka Perera, Parakrama Rathnayake (Captain), Normal Wickramasinghe, Nilantha Jayaweera, Rumesh Wasantha, Vimukthi Fernando, Udesh Madushanka, Revanka Fernando, Kaveesha Kaluarachchi, Gayantha Iddamalgoda, Sudath Bandara, Pramod Pathmasanka, Ishara Madusha, Aaron Perera, Nadun Gunasekara, Shashika Kawshan, Hasindu Premasiri, Niroshan Rajanayaka, Shashika Fernando, Isuru Jayarathna, Jason Karunaratne, Arosh Rathnayake, Darshana Dabare.