Police-Air Force clash should be a close game

By: Shamseer Jaleel

Feb. 27 (Daily Mirror) - The first quarter-final encounter in the 113-year-old Clifford Cup Knock-Out Rugby Tournament between Police Sports Club and Air Force Sports Club will be worked off at Longden Place tomorrow. The kick-off is scheduled for 4.00 p.m.

Police SC were the Plate Championship winners while Air Force SC ended as the runner-up in the same segment.

Mohan Wimalaratne will lead police SC and have some outstanding youngsters in their starting line-up with Akash Madushan and Hirantha Perera capable of penetrating any defence.

Coached by Nilfer Ibrahim, one of the top-class in the field, Police SC will be determined to reach the semi-finals of the Clifford Cup Tournament.

The Cops beat Air Force SC 31-22 in the first round but gave ample opportunity for their bench but in the end, lost out to the Airmen in the Plate Championship 5-26.

Meanwhile, Air Force SC will be led by the former Sylvestrian Parakrama Rathnayake and will have some outstanding players in the line-up such as Ishara Madushan and Gayantha Iddamalgoda.

They are coached by Asela Deshapriya, who has done a good job in his initial year as a club coach. He is the present coach of D. S. Senanayake College as well.

Referee: Ishanka Abeykoon.