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Quattro Cup winners fly to Johannesburg
The Royal Colombo Golf Club took on yet another smashing sponsorship of golf last Sunday when Senok Automobiles introduced their posh franchise the Audi Quattro. A good-looking thoroughbred its elegance is already on the road. The tournament was quite different to the normal pattern - the mode of play unusual. Two players became partners playing alternate shots. Amusing and confusing for some and quite exciting and challenging for others.

Almost 150 enthusiasts participated with the cream pushing for the plum luxury awards. Chulaka Amerasinghe and Murad Ismail combined superbly. Two very talented single handicap players complimented each other with stunning tee shots, some incredible recoveries and absolutely positive putting. They were amply rewarded with a tremendous victory score of 42 points, Air tickets to Johannesburg, parcels of goodies, plaques and resounding rounds of applause at the packed award ceremony.

Sad runners-upComing close behind by a slender margin of1 point were the happy and extremely popular combination of Ananda Jayasekera and Bandula Weerasinghe. These two unfortunates individually and in combination more often that not get pipped out of contention and handsome awards by slender margins.

This occasion was no exception. Sitting on 41 points they had confirmed their seats on the flight to Jo'burg when Lionel Almeida brought them the disastrous news that they were off-loaded.

Both played excellent golf dove-tailing superbly. Off the tee they were long and straight and on the greens one was as positive and accurate as the other. They were popular at the award ceremony.

In the Hidden Holes competition Vivek Chand and Anil Hirdaramani with skill, measures of luck and the hovering help of the omnipotent collected 18 points and luxury hampers of goodies as Awards.

S. Vairawanathan settled so close to the cup off the 9th tee that he almost struck a hole in one. He beamed all day and all night with glee. Noel Selvanayagam, the colourful President of Senok Automobiles was extravagant. A capacity crowd of participants and well wishers thronged the ceremony.

Sarath Piyaratne, the Captain of the R.C.G.C. was eloquent thanking Senok for their generosity in sponsoring golf, Gerard Fernando the bashful General Manager of Senok responded while Sunil Kaul, the visiting representative of Audi International promised more lavish sponsorship in the future.

He appeared greatly impressed with the style, manner and finesse of a well organised tournament thanks to the formidable trio Sarath Piyaratne, Kumar Boralessa and Lionel Almedia and to add style, colour, grace and comfort for the eyes Audi had a quartet of Penny Stork, Subashini Veerappan, Linda Perera and Ronali Guneratne handling the reception and award ceremony in absolute style.

KV crush Eheliyagoda RFC
KV-67, Eheliyagoda RFC-5
Kelani Valley Club opened their rugby season with a bang when they outplayed and outclassed Eheliyagoda RFC 67 ( a goal, 12 tries) to 5 (a try) in their B-division inter-province match played at Kelani Valley Club grounds recently.

KV's Mahesh Kurukulasooriya led a well-knit team who displayed abundant rugby skills to dominate play against newcomers Eheliyagoda RFC. At lemons KV led 27-5. After the turnaround KV went on a spree to score 9 tries. Kelani Valley in the past played A-division rugby with the likes of former Sri Lankan stalwart Lionel Almeida playing for the Talduwa Club. According to the President of KV Niroshana Ilangaratne they are confident of emerging B-division champions for year 2003.

KV has been playing rugby since 1890 when they had quite a number of foreign planters in the scrum. They should make the grade to play in the top league (A-division) next. The Chairman of SLRFU rugby Div.Committee Arjun Dharmadasa a live wire of Sabaragamuwa rugby is giving all encouragement and support. D.J.Ratwatte is the Convenor and B.Gunaratne (Coach).-BW

Act without fear or favour
One could win the battle, but not the war. The Cricket Board's general meeting for the top post before the final count down was apparently marred by character assassinations by the contending parties. In the end former president of the BCCSL Thilanga Sumathipala triumped by a massive majority.

Never in the history of Sri Lanka's cricket adminstration was there such pandemonium and such a power struggle to hold office. In the year 2000 A.G.M. there was a brawl and finally it ended in the portals of Hulftsdorp. At the end it resulted with Interim committees which made matters worse on and of the field.

In the last AGM there was no such thunderstorm, but fireworks aplenty after the meeting which went on for a quite a long time. What a waste of money? Now the past must be forgotten, so should old school and club loyalities. The victor and the vanquished should settle down for the massive task ahead.

Mild -mannered Thilanga Sumathipala, who has the acumen to work, has his hands full with problems to solve, be it financially or otherwise. He has won the battle, but it's going to be a significant war. There is a lot of waste. Put aside washing one's hands with Spring Water even in the media box. The last Interim Committee appointed a committee to go into the BCCSL constitution and make the necessary amendments to make it more viable and a truly representative body. Sad to mention, it never met even once.

Sumathipala who has a vision for the future, must have the courage and the strength to go into this long felt need and change the system and make it more representative. Sumathipala agreed at the media confab after being elected to office (BCCSL) that there will be more transparency in the management.

Some of these clubs who voted hardly play any sort of cricket in the domestic scene. Where is the development in the provinces despite being assisted, as done in other countries?

Mushroom Clubs
What is happening here apparently is that mushroom clubs are formed with no planning whatsover. Even the players are not from the district, but drawn from the metropolis and practise in Colombo.

Even a talented player from the district has no job opportunites in the district, but plays for a Colombo club. What sort of development is being done in the district, one avid fan asked. Are they active? Yes. Once a year when the elections are round the corner. In a general election there is a likelihood of a voter who tries to impersonate being nabbed. But in a sports body its not so, even if he has not participated in the domestic tournaments but given the licence to vote and be on par with the controlling clubs. How could one use his franchise if his name is not in the electoral list unless he impersonates another?

Take our domestic tournaments. What is the standard when compared to other countries? A club like SSC with all the facilities, with several national players and the cupboard full with young talent, lose to Bloomfield under two days. Isn't it shocking? The CB has to pay the umpires and match referees. At times the ground fees too.
The CB administration has to turn a new leaf. Thilanga has to act without fear or favour. - (BW)

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