Consistency key for N AVY says Weerasinghe
Navy SC were probably a bit lucky to have finished second last season. They have not made great signings either and the fact that they have to play without a foreign player would make it very difficult for them. The predicts a bottom-half finish for Navy
Navy Sports Club Captain Thilina Weerasinghe believes that consistency could be a major factor when they begin their campaign for the Dialog Inter-club League Rugby Tournament.
The Sailors finished second last season but were not seen as a leading contender for the title for the most part of the season.
However, according to Weerasinghe his ‘young side’ could really challenge the country’s most prestigious Trophy at Inter-club level during this year’s showpiece.
“We are confident. We have a young side, but the players are very talented. I think our strength is with the backs because we have pretty much the same three quarter line as last year. We will take one game at a time and we need to be much more consistent this season,” Weerasinghe told the
Hooker Dulanjana Wijesinghe left Navy SC to join the CR and FC while the Sailors signed Chathura Seneviratne from Kandy SC along with Gihan Perera from Havelock SC.
“Dulanjana has moved to CR, but we have got Amith Gunasinghe to play as the hooker. He actually played a few games last season, so we are confident of him. Chathura, I think is a very good addition to our squad because we saw how well he played at Inter-school level for St. Joseph’s College,” Weerasinghe added.
Navy SC played three pre-season games against Doha Rugby Football Club, Kandy Sports Club and Army Sports Club though with little success.
Weerasinghe however, stated that the Doha game in particular was a ‘great learning curve.’
“Because we played in the top-half last season, we will not be able to field a foreign player this time around. So for us to play that game against Doha was a great learning curve because that side had five foreign players,” added Weerasinghe.
A product of Kingswood College Kandy, Weerasinghe had a magnificent season last year where he ended up as being the highest try scorer as well as the highest points’ scorer.
“Last season was great for me personally and this time around I am leading the club. So that makes me want to do even better this season. I played my first Inter-club game three years ago and now I am leading Navy SC. I am very pleased with my achievements and hoping for a better season,” Weerasinghe added.