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A team which has once again emerged as a major force in the club rugby scene during the last two years is the Sri Lanka Police.

In 2001 the policemen led by Lalith Leelaratne began the rugby resurgence with two stunning wins over Army (19-12) and Havelocks (18-16) and notched up six victories in nine outings in the first round of the Caltex 'A' Division League but a slump in form saw them winning only one match out of five in the second round. In the quarter-finals of the Clifford Cup they scored a sensational 14-12 win over CR before going down fighting to the mighty Kandy SC by 11-18 at Nittawala in the semi-final.

However their best performance came in the President's Trophy Tournament in which they scored two smashing wins over Navy (35-18) and CH and FC (23-18) in the quarter-finals and semi-finals respectively before losing to CR and FC (6-17) in the final.

Last year the Policemen had another fine season winning 10 matches out of 15 in the Caltex 'A' Division League ending up in fourth position. They also had the honour of entering the Premier Trophy final with a smashing 36-27 win over the formidable Army in the semi-finals before losing to CR (18-26) in the final.

This year the Policemen have been strengthened by the inclusion of two outstanding ruggerites - prop forward Shantha Rohana from CR and FC and scrum half Sudath Sampath from Havelocks and the Policemen are going great guns this season having overcome Old Zahirians (88-0), Air Force (36-26), Navy (13-8) and Kurunegala RFC (40-11).

The Sri Lanka police reigned supreme in the club rugby scene in the 1980's winning the 'A' Division League Title for a record six successive years from 1984 to 1989. Upali Vidanage's policemen clinched the Clifford Cup by winning the 'A' Division League Title in 1984 while in the following year (1985) the Policemen led by Sunil Sahabandu clinched the Rugby Triple by bagging the John Player League, Rugby Sevens Title and the Clifford Cup with a 22-16 win over Havelocks in the final.

In 1986 the Policemen captained by H. Premasiri retained the John Player League Title while in the following year (1987) Muruga Jayaratne's Policemen bagged the Rugby Double by winning the John Player League and the Premadasa Trophy with a smashing 31-12 win over Havelocks helped by a hat-trick of tries by No. 8 Hector Gunatilleke.

In 1988 Ajantha Samarakoon's Policemen won the Rugby Double by clinching the John Player League Title and the Rugby Sevens Title. In 1989 Police captained by Hafeel Marso had a marvellous season by bagging the John Player League Title, Premadasa Trophy (with a 12-4 win over CR) and the Rugby Sevens Title (with a 12-6 win over CR) to clinch the Triple Crown.

In 1990 the policemen had to withdraw from rugby when the North East War broke out in June that year but in 1991 the policemen returned to competitive rugby and clinched the Rugby Double under the captaincy of Hemantha Yatawara by winning the John Player League and the Clifford Cup with a 13-11 win over CH and FC in the final.

But in the mid 1990's there was an exodus of their players to other clubs while several others hung up their boots which resulted in the decline of their rugby standard from 1996 to 2000.

This year the Policemen will be led by that hard running winger Sampath Galewela who has been turning out for Police since 1996.

Burly Sri Lanka prop forward Shantha Rohana will bind down in the front row either with Charaka Hewawasam or Anura Fernando. The hookers' berth will be filled by Asela Muthumala with Chaminda Silva making a determined bid to oust him.

Lanky Pradeep Wilson (better known in the basketball sphere) and Asela Withana will be the two lock forwards with Udaya Dissanayake and Samarakoon also eyeing these positions.

Two hard tacklers and tireless loose players T. D. Herath and S. B. Kulatunge will be the flankers but face a strong challenge from Susantha Kumara and Hiran Rasanga.

Nishantha Welagedera who is a solid tackler and a fine attacking player will be the No. 8. Operating from the base of the scrum will be either Sudath Sampath or young Anjula Silva who will pair off with Sri Lanka fly half Harshana Wijeweera. The other player who could fit into this position is Sudesh Dissanayake.

National player Nilusha Fernando who is a powerful runner and a resolute tackler will occupy one centre berth while Champika Thushara and Thushara Muthusanka will battle it out for the other berth. Skipper Sampath Galewala will occupy one wing while the other wing will be manned by either Ayaz Hossan or Saman Ekanayake.

The last line of defence will be manned by Danushka Pubudu who has excelled with his safe collections and booming kicks to touch but he is facing a strong challenge from the experienced Sudesh Dissanayake.

The policemen are being once again coached by Double International Hafeal Marso who said that their aim this year is to finish third in the Caltex 'A' Division League having finished in fourth position last year. (R.S.)

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