CR target winning start in round-2

By Sandun Kodithuwakku

CR and FC will target a winning start to the second-round of the Dialog Inter-Club League Rugby Tournament when they take on Navy Sports Club at Welisara tomorrow (25). The kick-off is at 4.15 p.m.

CR will certainly start as clear favourites to pull off the game as they had the better of the same opponents 27-24 in their final first-round fixture at Londgen Place last week.

In fact, CR ended the first-round campaign with a total of five victories and were placed fourth in the points table while Navy SC finished fifth with just a couple of victories under their belt.

Even then, this will be a great opportunity for the Sailors to avenge their last week’s defeat as they will enjoy the home advantage in this vital game.

Navy SC will be determined to produce an improved performance as they look to get back into winning ways in order to finish among the top four in the league.

Meanwhile, CR have made a couple of changes for this game with Supun Warnakulasooriya set to play in the pivotal number eight position in place of Omalka Gunaratna.

However, according to team sources, the CR Skipper is likely to make his appearance in the second half of the game.

In addition, Harith Bandara would replace Kavindu de Costa as scrum half.

In contrast, Navy SC have stuck to the same team which played last week.

The teams

CR and FC: Pathum Weerasinghe, Gayan Dilshan, Ashen Fernando, Gayan Jayasekara, Sharo Fernando, Wajid Fawmy, Jero Dananjaya, Supun Warnakulasooriya, Harith Bandara and Kalindu Nandila, Dinuk Amarasinghe, Janidu Dilshan, Gemunu Chethiya, Reeza Raffaideen, Murshid Zubair.

Navy SC: Deshan Vimukthi, Amith Gunasingha, Charith Silva, Stephan Gregory, Nirosh Perera, Gihan Perera, Adeesha Weerathunga, Radeesha Seneviratna, Richie Dharmapala (Captain) and Isuru Kongahawaththa, Supun Dilshan, Sachinka Abeysekara, Thanuja Malimbada, Chathura Seneviratna, Thilina Weerasingha.