CH out to recapture its past glory

Ranjeeva Seneviratne

RUGBY: A team which is determined to recapture its past glory in rugby is the Colombo Hockey and Football Club.

Having failed to live upto expectations during the last three years the lads from Maitland Crescent have emerged as a strong contender for the Caltex 'A' Division League Title this year with a powerful pack laden with national players and a three quarter line which has been strengthened by the entry of sturdily built centre Jimmy Bolakoro.

Incidentally it was Bolakoro and that hefty lock forward Fred Moe who played a key role in the success of CH and FC in 2003 when they finished runners up of the Caltex 'A' Division league by winning 13 matches out of 15 losing just one match to Kandy and were also held to a draw by Havelocks. They also stormed into the Clifford Cup final before losing to Kandy by 20-35.

This year their aim is to clinch the 'A' Division League title which they last won in the year 2000. Leading the team this year is Sri Lanka flanker Dilanka Wijesekera who has been an automatic choice for the national team for the last two years. He is a fine attacking player and a fierce tackler who has proved to be a source of inspiration to his team-mates.

He will play in his pet position of flanker with former Sri Lanka player Sumedha Malewana and ex-Havelocks flanker Nishantha Bopearachchi fighting it out for the other position. Former Havelocks skipper and ex-Sri Lanka player Rajiv Ganapathy will be the regular number eight.

The latest addition to CH and FC former Navy and Sri Lanka ruggerite Manjula Ruwantilleke and national player Dinesh Sanjeewa will be the lock forwards with Wasamba Senerath making a strong bid to oust one of them. The lads from Maitland

Crescent boast of a formidable front row which comprises Sri Lanka prop forwards Nilan Ekanayake and Jayantha Ranaweera and hooker Achala Perera (who represented Sri Lanka against Kazakhstan three weeks ago).

Roy Nishantha is the first choice for the scrum half position but faces a strong challenge from 'Sevens' specialist Tuan Shamrock and Tuan Bohoran. The pivotal fly half berth will be filled by either former Havelocks player Sajith Bendara or Ex-Navy and Sri Lanka ruggertie Rizan Saldin.

Strongly built Fijian centre Jimmy Balakoro is sure to test the opponents defence to the hilt with his powerful runs and he will play alongside Rukshan Wijesinghe, a hard runner and a resolute tackler. Lakala Perera and Niroshan Ekanayake who stood out in the first two matches with their sizzling runs down the flanks will be manning the wings.

Young Matheesha de Silva who had an excellent season last year as a centre will be manning the last line of defence. He excelled in the first two matches with his safe collections and booming kicks to touch and also joins the line to form the overlap.

Veteran Dinuk de S. Wijeyaratne is the other player eyeing this position. Former National coach Tony Amith has been entrusted with the task of coaching CH this year and is determined to mould them into a champion outfit with the assistance of former CH skipper and Sri Lanka Winger Chandrishan Perera.