MAS Holdings dethrone Access Group in extra time
MAS Holdings led by Kandy’s brilliant scrumhalf Roshan Weeraratne, regained the Mercantile Rugby Football ‘plum’ at the 47th Mercantile ’7s’ concluded at the Race Course International Rugby Stadium last Sunday, when they defeated defending ‘Cup’ Champions, Access Group in the final, with Weeraratne touching down in the 2nd period of extra time. The scores were level at 14-14 at full-time and 7-7 at halftime .
Anuruddha Wilwara drew first blood for MAS, Roshan Weeraratne converted 7-0. Access Group equalised when Richard Dharmapala scored and Dhanushka Ranjan converted 7-7.
In the second half, Sandun Herath scored and Roshan Weeraratne converted to put MAS ahead 14-7. Richard Dharmapala went over with Kevin Dixon adding the extra points, and Access drew level 14-14, sending the match into overtime. The scores were deadlocked at the end of the first period of extra time (3 minutes) with noscoring. Then came the thunderbolt in the 2nd minute of the 2nd period of extra time, which vanquished defending Champions Access, the try by Roshan Weeraratne 19-14. Irshad Cader Refereed.
MAS earlier won the ‘Cup’ in 2010, ’11, ’13, ’14 and ’15, and missed 2016 the tournament citing player injuries.
Sundun Herath of MAS was adjudged Man of the Final and was awarded the Pemraj Peiris Memorial Challenge trophy.
Richard Dharmapala of Access, was adjudged Man of the Tournament for the 2nd successive year, and awarded the Mohan Daniel Memorial Challenge Trophy.He also rode away with the ‘Yamaha’ F2 150 CC bike from AMW. MAS won the Sajith Mallikarachchi Memorial Challenge Trophy award for ‘Fair Play’ voted by the Officiating Referees.
Newcomer to the ‘Cup’ Championship, Kanrich Finance won the playoff for 3rd place and took the ‘Plate’, beating another newcomer in the big league, Citizens Development Business (CDB) ‘A’.
The final went into overtime, as the scores were level 7-7 at full-time. Kanrich led 7-0 at halftime. The winning try came in the 2nd period of extra time. Weranga Refereed. Pabasara Hewage ofKanrich Finance won the Capt. Mathew George Challenge Trophy, for the Most Promising Player.
Classic Travel had to fight every inch of the way to beat debutants, Clovetel, 21-14 in the ‘Bowl’ final. Scores were level 7-7 at half time. Ishanka Refereed.
Clovetel made a dream debut, despite losing to Classic Travel in the final. Clovetel remained unbeaten up to the final, scoring 8 wins on the trot. Gayan Weeraratne from Classic Travel was picked as Most Up-and-Coming Player.
CDB ‘B’ won the 1st final played on Sunday, for the ‘Shield’, beating debutant, Fair First Insurance, 20-14, after leading 10-0 at halftime.
It was another feather in the Cap for CDB when their women won the 2nd Women’s Tag Rugby tournament by defeating defending Champions, Ceylon Tobacco Co. (CTC) ‘A’ 25-0. CDB remained unbeaten throughout the tournament, beating CTC ‘A’ 15-5; Virtusa 10-0 and drawing with CTC ‘B’ 5-5 in the League stage.
MRFA broke tradition and shifted the venue from Longdon Place to Race Course, for the first time since 1966. The tournament was jointly sponsored by South Asia Gateway Terminal (SAGT) and Jaguar-Land Rover by SML Frontier Automotive (Pvt) Ltd.,
SAGT Chief Financial Officer, Channa Gunasekera, SML Frontier Automotive (Pvt) Ltd., General Manager Ravi Perera, SAGT Chief Commercial Officer Ted Muttiah, AMW Director Passenger Vehicles, Yohan de Soyza, AMW Group MD Samantha Rajapaksa, MRFA Patron Sumal Perera presented the awards.