For Sri Lanka the tries were scored by forward Omalka Gunaratne (two), centre Nishon Perera (two), skipper cum utility player Kevin Dixon (one) and winger Chamika Kusal (one). Dixon converted three tries.

In their second match Sri Lanka put on a brilliant display of sevens rugby to cruise to an emphatic 40 points to 5 victory over Thailand scoring six more tries through wingers Reeza Rafaideen (two), winger Buddhima Piyaratne (two), centres Chamika Kusal (one), Rehan Silva (one), forward Taariq Saleh (one). The conversions were slotted in by Raffaideen (four) and Piyaratne (one).

The Junior Tuskers then demolished group runners up Malaysia with a runaway 40 points to 5 win in their last match for the day to finish unbeaten and top their group. They will now play Singapore in the quarter-finals tomorrow. The tries were scored by winger Reeza Rafaideen (two), centre Nishon Perera, Kevin Dixon, fly half Shamry Burah and scrum half Vimukthi Rahula scored one try apiece. The conversions were made by Raffaideen (four) and Supun Dilshan (one).

Incidentally Omalka was the vice-captain to ex-Peterite skipper Kevin ‘Kutty’ Dixon when they participated in the Asian under 20 Seven’s series in Malaysia and Hong Kong. But this time around the selectors have appointed Dixon as Omalka’s deputy for this 15-a-side tournament in Singapore. The side is coached by Sanath Martis one of the best coach’s in the business. Martis produced this year’s unbeaten Royal College rugby team.

Former St. Peter’s College rugby captain and present consultant coach of the knockout winning Science College Colin Peter Denish will function as the assistant coach.

Former Royal ruggerite Buddika Kulatunga, nephew of late Major General Paramee Kulatunga will manage the team. Sri Lanka has been drawn in the same pool alongside Hong Kong, Chinese Taipei and host Singapore. The tournament will worked off from December 13-19.

Going by the crossovers, new entrants and exodus of players from club to club, Police perhaps have stood to gain more as they look to deploy a star cast of exponents that rival teams may grudge or need to buckle up to challenge.

Like it or not, Havelocks will have to bear the brunt of a Police backlash and face hardcore players like Sharo Fernando, Bilal Hassan, Reza Mubarak and Chamara Dabare who have crossed over from Navy, Mohamed Sheriff and Chula Susantha who quit Army.

“We are expecting our new intakes to take us to the next level with their experience”, said Police Rugby secretary and former Sri Lanka prop Hafeel Marso.

“With these players we are capable of competing against any team in the League and our target is to finish in the top three and that’s not to say we cannot win the title.”

Police have also enlisted a new trainer in former Sri Lanka Number Eight Dushanth Lewke while the team is coached by Lalith Weeraratne with fly half Lahiru Gurusinghe as captain.

Besides facing up to a Police juggernaut, Havelocks will also have to find their feet as they set about to convince their supporters who have had very little to brag about since the Park Club won the League in 2012 after a 31-year lapse.

Flying winger Sandun Herath will have more than just a role to play as he captains Havelocks who have re-enlisted their former charismatic coach Tulagaese Tawita, a Samoan better known as Laga who guided them to the League title in 2012.

Laga will have to be the main driving force behind the scene if Havelocks are to go places and regain lost pride in a season that offers nothing to the lesser mortals and is being touted as anyone’s playground.

“This side is different from 2012. There is more balance and it’s only a matter of motivating them”, said Laga. But while the Havelocks-Police clash is expected to draw most of the fans, Navy and Air Force will actually raise the League curtain on the same day at Welisara in a match that both teams will look to gauge their strengths and weaknesses.

Navy will have to depend on a high element of schoolboys to overcome many voids following the exit of the elite of their players to Police and Kandy.

Among their new faces are former Isipathana College play-maker and Number Eight Omalka Gunaratne and St. Joseph’s College prop forward Steven Gregory.

Apart from Police opening their doors to Navy’s battled hardened players, Kandy have also enticed Srinath Suriyabandara, Soyura Anthony and Wishwamithra Jayasinghe to leave the Welisara club rendering it a team on rough seas under coach Nilfer Ibrahim.