Defending and triple crown champions the marauding Navy sound battle-cries as they prepare to take on another Dialog Rugby League season.
A Bit of Old
In 1961 the Navy Sports Club together with Division ‘B’ teams from Air Force, Army SC, Police and University were permitted to play alongside the Division ‘A’ clubs, Ceylonese Rugby & Football Club, Colombo Hockey and Football Club, Havelock SC, Kandy SC, Dimbulla Atheletic & Cricket Club, Dickoya Maskeliya Cricket Club, Uva and Kelani Valley Club in the Clifford Cup competition. The expanded competition, allowed all thirteen clubs to play each other once on a home and away basis in alternate years and at the end of the season the best eight teams went on to play in a knock-out tournament for the Clifford Cup.
In 1975 they competed for the first time in the “Division A” Rugby League, under the captaincy of P L B Nandasiri. In their first game against the 1974 Clifford Cup champions, Havelock SC they narrowly lost by 13 points to 9
Lately
Navy Sports club mostly consisted of sailors in the past but was modified and professionalized by the Rajapaksa brothers as a result made history in the season 2013/14 by winning the Dialog Rugby League for the first time and also clinched the Clifford cup knock out in the same year under the youngest Rohitha Rajapaksa. However, Rohitha Rajapaksa has transferred to Army S.C for the new season which will now put up a title showdown with his news club.
The Driving Force
Yoshitha Rajapaksa is back after his knee injury and ready to carry out his performance to defend the title. Also flanker Dhanushka Gertha Perera has been a mainstay and has contributed immensely towards the betterment of Navy SC rugby. Interestingly they have got signed some powerful forwards and the sensational7s character Srinath Sooriyabandara who represented the Tuskers in the concluded Asian 5 nations.
Eranga Swarnathilaka is the power house in the front row along with Achala Perera who is another prolific player.
New Blood
Rizah Mubarak has the second run with Navy after playing for Longdon Place club last year and his kicking rate has been 100% in the opener against Sharks which will add further impetus.
Vishvamithra Jayasinghe will add excruciating speed along with Chamara Dabare in the wing and also Dinusha Chaturanga’s experience in the Centre/wing will be added bonus for Sailors.
Havies transfers Henry Terrence, Sharo Fernando and Hasitha Perera would look to add solidarity to the Navy pack as they too could play a major role in the defense of the Navy title.
Foreign Ammo
Joeli Lutuimalagi and Setefano Cakau will once again sport the centre/three quarter jersey for the Sailors, while 3-4 more foreign faces would be flying in to the island shortly.
Coaching Contingent
Champion coach Leonard De Zilva once again be in charge with the Sailors after two in two bouts where he won with Havelocks in 2012 and with Navy last year. He will surely be eyeing his hat-trick. Former Navy player Sumedha Malawana will also add his experience to assist Leonard.
What They Had To Say
Coach Leonard de Zilva expressed his views exclusively to ThePapare.com saying that “we have brilliant individuals, skills wise they are at the peak of it. We just need to brush up on the game plan and focus mainly on retaining our title”.
Troops
Props – Henry Terrence / Kasun De Silva / Eranga Swarnathilaka / Dhanushka Sandanuwan / Roshan Ranasinghe
Hookers – Achala Perera / Dulanjana Wijesinghe / Suneth Chathuranga
Locks – Suhiru Anthony / Hasitha Perera / Sharo Fernando / Kalana Amarasinghe
Flankers – Yoshitha Rajapaksa / Dhanushka Gertha / Nivanka Prasad / Kancghana Lakshitha
No 8 – Sajith Saranga
Scrum Half – Suranga Pushpakumara / Srinath Sooriyabandara / Richie Dharmapala
Fly Half – Chanaka Chandimal / Dev Anand /
Centers – Lee Keegal / Joeli Lutumalagi
Wing – Chamara Dabare / Dinusha Chathuranga / Saliya Handapangoda / Niranjan Wickramaratne / Vishwamithra Jayasinghe / Ayesh Thiwanka / Sanith Dananjaya / Amila Shiranga
Full Back – Rizah Mubarak / Thilina Weerasinghe /
