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Sports

Police overcome Kurunegala RFC
Police-40, KRFC-11
By M. Shamil Amit
Kurunegala RFC played an improved game in their Caltex 'A' Division Rugby tournament match against the strong Police SC going down by 11-40 at Kurunegala yesterday. Kurunegala RFC who lost their previous matches heavily playing on their home ground curtailed their opponents to 28-6 in the first half.

In the second half the Kururnegala boys played better with Police managing to add only another 12 points whilst they had the privilege of crossing the Police defence. Police's points were made up of five goals and a try while Kurunegala RFC 's tally had one try and two penalties.

Sudath Sampath (2) and skipper Sampath Galewalage, Nalin Welagedera, Champika Thushara and Ayash Hussain one each were the try scorers for the winners with Harshana Wijeweera converting five of the tries.Kurunegala RFC have been promised two foreign players by the Sports Ministry but to date there has been no word of them. The Kurunegala lads are having a tough time to keep the game alive but they are receiving a lot of support from Police and SriLanka fullback Charles Wijewardena who is the ASP at Kurunegala.

Army beat Air Force 1-0 at hockey
Army beat Air Force 1-0 on Penalty strokes and carried away the Charles Robinson Memorial Cup in the 7th Charles Robinson Memorial hockey sevens (tournament) final played at Edward Park - Matale last Saturday.

Amidst plenty of excitement the final battle between Army and Air Force ended in a nil-all draw and the game was decided by one on one penalty strokes - Sticker Versus the goalie whereby Army emerged Winners (1-0)

Mahes Abeysekara and M.B. Herath controlled the game with S. Jayasinghe officiating as the third umpire. Nineteen (19) teams competed in this 7th Charles Robinson Memorial Hockey Sevens 2003 conducted by the Matale old Thomians Colombo Branch.-LDC Matale

Isipathana open season with Old Boys game
Isipathana MV, front-runners for the forthcoming Inter-School rugby season, will have a dress rehearsal when they take on their Old Boys on May 24 (Saturday) at Longden Place. Kick-off will be at 5 P.M.

This was revealed to the Sunday Times by Dilroy Fernando, a Committee Member of the Isipathana Rugby Development Committee. The present boys will be led by flanker Nimesh de Silva. Sri Lanka hooker Viraj Prasanna will lead the Old Boys.

The Old Boys will field some outstanding players of yesteryear such as Roshan Peiris, A. Walpola, Nishantha Kumara, Charitha Kodagoda, S. Nawaz, who are turning out for the CR&FC. According to Dilroy Fernando they will give all encouragement for Isipathana to enjoy another successful schools rugby season. Isipathana will play their first match on May 30 against D.S. Senanayake MV at Havelock Park. (BW).

Nuwara Eliya junior soccer team on a winning spree
Nuwara Eliya District Under-15 team won three matches at the Inter-league Football tournament played recently under the Junior Soccer project programme organised by the Hatton Football Coach Mr. K.B.H. Silva.

In the first encounter Hatton F.L. beat Beruwela Al Hidaya by 2 goals to nil.Mr. D. Priyankara officiated. In the second match Nuwara Eliya Holy Trinity Tamil M.V. beat Hatton F.L. by 2 goals to nil. Referee Mr. M. Shanthan.

Once again Nuwara Eliya Holy Trinity Tamil M.V. beat Beruwela Under 15 by a solitary goal. Mr. K.B. Hector Silva officiated. Nuwara Eliya Holy Trinity Sinhala M.V beat Al Hidaya Under-13 squad by 3 goals to nil. Referee Mr. M. Muzamil. -VTR

Kandy SC host Old Zahirians
The star studded Kandy SC will be hosting the Old Zahirians at Nittawela today. Led by Sajith Malikarachchi, Kandy SC has no less than 12 Sri Lankan national players. If Old Zahirians are to stop the Kandy speedy three quarters they have to tackle them hard and low without fear.

Kandy SC after their two century cricket scores, one against Kurunegala (172-0) and their home town youth team (100-5) will be all out to go on a try spree game. Kandy SC will be at full strength for this match, with the forwards led by Sri Lankan skipper and former Trinity "Lion" Pradeep Basnayake.

Sri Lankan Sevens skipper Nalaka Weerakody won't be participating in this game. His place will be taken by former Antonian Pushpakumara, Radika Hettiarachchi and Liyanage are the wingers. Kick off at 5.00 P.M. (SJ)

Unbeaten Soldiers march on
Army-24, Navy-5
By Shamseer Jaleel
Army had to fire on all cylinders in order to beat Navy by 24 points (one goal, a try and four penalties) to 5 (a try) in their Caltex first round rugby game at Welisara yesterday. At the breather Army led 9-5.

Navy's defence was rock solid as several threatening Army moves were stopped. The two Kenyan players who were turning out for the Army this season were well marked. Navy were leading up to the 35th minute of the game at 5-3.

Army have none to blame but themselves for the basic errors they made. Late in the first half they conceded two penalties to the Soldiers by holding on to the ball. By this action they put their own line under pressure.

With only five minutes to go the score stood at 12-5. Then came Army's fireworks into play when they scored two tries - one by Edwin Shumanga and the other by Papakum Fernando. Army's fullback I.A. Silva was in good kicking form as he put over three penalties and a try, thus contributing 14 points.

For Navy their scrum half Ranatunga scored the solitary try which was unconverted. Kapila Newton (Army), Ruwantilleke and Sharifdeen (Navy) were outstanding. Anil Jayasinghe controlled the game. With this match Navy are yet to register a single victory whilst Army have won all their matches.

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