Police, Air Force battle for Plate

By Harsha Amarasinghe & Sandun Kodithuwakku

Police Sports Club will go head-to-head against Air Force Sports Club for the Plate Championship of Inter Club League Rugby Tournament at Police Park today.  

The Airmen are leading the Plate segment with 29 points while Police are just a point behind them, effectively meaning that the winner on Friday will claim the plate.  

According to the Police team management they are expected to make huge change in the front row with hooker Deshan Fernando set to replace senior campaigner Rasith Silva and flanker Lahiru Thilakaratne has paved the way for Thabeeth Hafiz.   

The backline which has been so consistent in the last few weeks remains the same for Police.   

Irrespective of the results, the head coach Nilfer Ibrahim must be commended for making the most out of the Police backline.   

They have had most of their first choice backs out injured but Ibrahim, like he did with Isipathana and St. Joseph’s College in the inter-school segment, created a really effective backline that dominated top teams such as Havelock as well as CH and FC.   

On Friday however, they will be up against an Air Force team that is very well experienced.   

Their backline in particular could challenge even the likes of Kandy and CR with players such as Gayantha Gayantha  Iddamalagoda, Nuwan Perera, Ishara Madushan and Rumesh Ramadas.   

Police are expected to have the upper hand in the forward battle but the timely return of number eight Saraka Warella as well as the experienced of hooker Parakrama Rathnayake would boost the team from Ratmalana.   

This could be a very tight game as both the teams have done brilliantly in the recent weeks.   

Police XV: Amjad Fawmy, Deshan Fernando, Hashan Fernando, Nisal Samadhi (c), Mohan Wimalaratne, Thabeeth Hafiz Chanaka Sooriyapperuma, Shanaka Harishchandra, Primesh Danushka and Yohan Peiris, Stefan Praveen, Akash Madushanka, Rukshan Madushanka, Sujan Kodithuwakku, Shane Hopwood   

Air Force XV: Nirmal Wickramasinghe, Parakrama Rathnayaka, Fareed Dilshan, Nilantha Jayaweera, DunalFenando, Dilan Fenando, Denuwan Wickramasinghe, Saraka Weralla, Nuwan Perera and GayanthaIddamalgoda, Sudath Bandara, Soorya Krishan, Ishara Madushan, Darshana Dabare, Rumesh Ramdas