• Twins dazzle in Thomian victory
• Exciting draw
• Sangakkar sparkles in Sri Lanka A's win
• CH run riot over Kandy
• Ismail's hat-trick powers Thurstan
• Atapattu-Jayasinghe shine
• Old Thomians are promoting fellowship! Samarasinghe
• Gothami BMV for Irish Karate meet
• Crash Training course for referee/ judges in Boxing
• What went wrong for CH & FC rugby?
• Easy win for Dharmaraja
• GSM Dialog pool on Tuesday, May 23

Twins dazzle in Thomian victory

By Ravi Nagahawatte

Twins Jeevan and Jayan Gunatilake made a Thomian victory all the more memorable as they scored a try each to hand S.Thomas' a 14-11 win over Royal in their Micheal Gunaratne Trophy rugby encounter at the Sugathadasa Stadium yesterday.

The two third row forwards were a part of a ravaging Thomian pack which left Royal seeing black and blue and also win back the coverted Micheal Gunaratne Trophy which has been eluding them for the last four years .

The hulking Thomian forwards rose as from a deep slumber and made things happen in the second half after Royal held on to a 6-0 lead at half time.

The Thomians made the egg shaped ball look like one of their own possesions as they kept the ball with them to fashion out many a move to stun the Royalists.

And their sting was felt 14 minutes after the breather when the Thomians swamped the opposition goal line from a ruck formation to breach the defence.

Man mountain and skipper Gavin Jayasekara made a short tap taken inside the '22' look so dangerous as he set the ball up for Jeevan Gunatilake to finsh the move.

The convertion well taken by Azvan Thajudeen put the Thomians in the lead.

The Thomians were back in the Royal '22' and threatened to tear the Royal defence again with many a promising move .

And just before the exitement of the first try had died the lads from Mount Lavinia crossed the opponents line again to knock the stuffings out of Royal.

The winners moved inside the Royal five in threatening fashion and made the most of a rolling maul for Jayan Gunatilake to score. Thajudeen being spot on with the convertion put the Thomians on song and the Royalists in tatters.

But the Royalists refused to go down without a fight and sparked off a come back effort with a try in dramatic fashion.

A rare back line move sudenly clicked at the time of need and the Royalists scored when centre Harin Kaluarachchi produced thunder on the left flank to breeze through and score .

A missed attempt at goaling the try by Wijewardana did not stop the Royalists going on the offensive again. But Royal lost their second battle, this time with time, which made the Thomians deserving winners.

Exciting draw

By Aubrey Kuruppu

Trinity and St. Peter's played out an exciting draw at Pallekelle last evening in their Inter-School rugby match.

Twenty points were scored by the two teams in a match that reached a top level of excitement in the last few minutes. The Peterites were awarded a penalty well within kicking range but theoir place kicker made a hash of it. The Peterites scored through Ilesinghe and No 8. Mario Oorloff. The Trinitians crossed their opponents line but once. The player responsible was fullback Jayawardena who goaled his own try and also converted a penalty. Referee Anil Jayasinghe

* Kingswood outwilted and outfought their traditional rivals Dharmaraja to win their Inter-school rugby match by 21 points (3 tries, two penalties) to 11 (a try, 2 penalties) at Nittawela last evening.

At half time the winners led 8-6. It was a superb display of fast open rugby dished out by both sides. The Rajans pack did their part admirably, however the Kingswood backs was just too thrustful and penetrative. The moves spun out by them were a spectator's delight. Kingswood thus scored their second win in a row over a Kandy school and together with the Antonians seems to be the teams to beat.

Sangakkar sparkles in Sri Lanka A's win

By Leonard Ratnayake

An unbeaten 156 runs off 140 balls by Asia Cup discard Kumar Sangakkara helped Sri Lanka "A" to reach a mammoth 297 to beat their Zimbabwean counterparts by 110 runs in their second one-day match at de Soysa Stadium, Moratuwa last evening. Coming in at number four Sangakkar batted with patience until he reached his century in 114 balls and then fired his way to 156 runs after the 46th over. His last 56 runs came in just 26 balls.

Sri Lankan skipper Thilan Samaraweera won the toss and elected to bat on a pitch which was predicted to make a lot of runs and help the spinners in the final hours of the day. But both Lankan openers got out cheaply in the fourth over to Andy Blignaut. Avishka Gunawardena who was looked down by the national selectors for the Asia Cup despite showing a good form during the Test series, failed to prove himself in the one-day game when he was caught at mid-on by Zimbabwean skipper Angus Mackay for nine runs. Shantha Kalawitagoda was out for just three runs.

Sri Lanka 'A' innings (50 overs maximum)

A. Gunawardene c Mackay b Blignaut 9

S. Kalavitigoda b Blignaut 3

S.I. De Saram c Campbell b Rennie 54

K. Sangakkara not out 156

L.P.C Silva c & b Rennie 1

T.T. Samaraweera b Mackay 35

C Jayasinghe b Mackay 9

K Weeraratne not out 5

Extras: (b 7, lb 5, w 11, nb 2) 25

Total (6 wickets, 50 overs, 227 mins) 297

DNB: PP Wickramasinghe, N Zoysa, D Hettiarachchi.

Fall: 1-17 (Kalavitigoda), 2-18 (Gunawardene), 3-156 (De Saram), 4-158 (Silva), 5-234 (Samaraweera), 6-268 (Jayasinghe).

Bowling: Mackay 10 -0-39- 2; Blignaut 10-0-74-2;Ebrahim 10-0-36-0; Price 3-0-20-0;Vermeulen 4-0-27-0;Wishart 3-0-19-0; Rennie 9-0-54-2; Peacock 1-0-15-0.

Zimbabwe 'A' innings (target: 298 runs from 50 overs)

D. A. Marillier c Sangakkara b Weeraratne 27

A.J. Mackay b Zoysa 7

D.J.R. Campbell c Weeraratne b Jayasinghe 15

M.A Vermeulen c De Saram b Weeraratne 6

C.B. Wishart c Wickramasinghe b Hettiarachchi 69

G.J. Rennie run out (Samaraweera) 3

A.M. Blignaut c Weeraratne b Samaraweera 30

G.A. Lamb run out (Wickramasinghe) 6

D.D. Ebrahim run out (De Saram) 1

D.J. Peacock b Silva 2

R.W. Price not out 0

Extras: (lb 2, w 4, nb 5) 11

Total: (all out, 46.4 overs) 187

Fall: 1-10 (Mackay), 2-35 (Campbell), 3-56 (Marillier), 4-74 (Vermeulen), 5-95 (Rennie), 6-158 (Blignaut), 7-181 (Wishart), 8-183 (Lamb), 9-184 (Ebrahim), 10-186 (Peacock).

Bowling: Zoysa 7-2-22-1; Jayasinghe 6-0-26-1;Weeraratne 7-2-3-2; Hettiarachchi 10-1-54-1;Samaraweera 10-1-22-1; Wickramasinghe 6-0-36-0; Silva 0.4-0-2-1.

Toss: Sri Lanka 'A'

Umpires: Peter Manuel and Gamini Silva

TV Umpire: BC Cooray

Match Referee: Roger Wijesuriya

CH run riot over Kandy

By Bernie Wijesekera

The fitter and strong back division with their abundant stamina ran riot against the reigning champions Kandy SC to outplay them by 33 points (a goal, 4 tries, 2 penalties) to 11 (a try and 2 penalties) in a A league matchplayed at Maitland Crescent yesterday.

The winners led 13-6 at the break.

This was Kandy's second consecutive loss away from home. Lastweek they went down to the Army SC. It was a game where the respective forwards played a dominant role. But the CH playing to a plan and with better fluencyand mobility outclassed the opponents despite their size to cross over the line on five occasions. The entire back divisions had a hand moving the ball at every given time. CH scrum half Milinda Jayasinghe decided to move the ball and in turn saw the entire three quarters making gaping holes in the Kandy fortress. Of course, the showpiece was winger Ajith Upawansa. With his deceptive running Upawansa constantly bemused the Kandy defence. For Kandy they were all at sea against the unyielding CH forwards who rucked the loose ball at every given turn to inch their way to the Kandy line.

Kandy couldn't match the skills of their opponents. They won much good ball but the backs were found wanting rather than an occasional break made by centre Lasantha Wijesuriya, who lacked support. Asoka Jayasena was the lone warrior and played his heart out matching with Thushara Jayalath in the line outs. Nalaka Weerakkody in defence and in attack was at his brilliant best.

His booming kicks to touch from his own 25 gave Kandy much ground to gain but of no avail. Nalaka missed three penalties over the uprights, two in the firsthalf and one in the second. If not for his intelligent play, Kandy would have lost by a bigger score.

In this match CH's fullback Nalin Dissanayake played with confidence. He had a big hand for putting his side on top, two penalties and converted the last try scored by scrum half Milinda Jayasekera off a five yards scrum, just before the long whistle.

The first CH try was scored by Thushara Jayalath which went unconverted. After the short break CH took control to dominate and scored three tries.

Hooker Samera Wijesinghe scored his second try off a Kandy throw-in when he crashed over the corner flag for an unconverted try. Kandy was rewarded with their solitary try scored by hard working second row forward Asoka Jayasena off a short tap 18-11. CH went ahead to make it 21-11 through a penalty pu tover by Nalin Dissanayake. Within a space of five minutes before the long whistle of referee Nizam Jamaldeen, CH scored two tries through Uganthara Karunaratne and Milinda Jayasinghe to register a run-away 33-11 victory.

Today CR and FC will host Army SC at Longden Place in a keenly looked forward to match while Havies will take on Navy at the Park.

Ismail's hat-trick powers Thurstan

By Jatila Karawita

A splendid individual effort by dashing 17-year-old wing three quarter Askar Ismail, who scored a hat-trick of tries powered Thurstan to a resounding 30 points to 15 win over St.Joseph's, in their annual Inter School rugby encounter at Bullers Road yesterday. At half time the scores were deadlocked at 10 all.

The winners garnered their points through two goals, two tries, and two penalties, while the losers scored their points from a goal a try and a penalty.

Thurstan sans five of their regulars in this match, were stretched to the hilt by the unfancied St.Joseph's for much of the first half, as the heavy Josephian pack tackled the penetrative Thurstan 'threes' time and again, spoiling many a threatening move, but their inability to sustain that robust play right through out saw the lads from Bullers Road, cutting loose during the dying stages of the game, to run away with the match.

For the Thurtanites Young Winger Askar Ismail stole the day, by running down three superlative tries, two of which he scored covering 40 metres in a fabulous run down the right flank, which simply knocked the stuffing out of the Joes.

Apart from the heroics of Ismail, Flanker Shivantha Pradeep, also scored a try for the winners, while Centre Saliya Asanka, converted one of the tries besides putting over a penalty.

For the Darley Road School, C. Thimbiripola, and Dennis Manuel, scored their two tries respectively,while full back Karthick Mohandas, goaled one of those tries as well as firing over a penalty.

Vimal Perera substituted for the appointed referee Asanga Abayakoon in the second half following the injury forced lay off of Abayakoon whose left knee was twisted due to a tackle by one of the players.

Atapattu-Jayasinghe shine

By Marlon Fernandopulle

A 112 run 4 th wicket stand between Marvan Attapattu (66) and Asela Jayasinghe (72) helped Sampath Bank beat Seyaln Bank by 4 wickets in a Mercantile A Division game at Havelock Park yesterday.

Chasing 178 to win in 33 overs Sampath Bank slumped to 39 for 3 before Atapattu and Jaysinghe came together and steadied the innings with a century stand that helped Sampath remain unbeaten and register their 6 th win in the tournament.

Atapattu played the sheet anchor role while Jayasinghe was in cracking form scoring 9 boundaries and two sixes in his 51 ball innings.

Seylan Bank-177/8 in 33 overs(Lanka de Silva 21, Pradeep Hewage 36, Naweed Nawaz 29, Mahela Jayawardene 16; Rangana Herath 2/31, Chandika Hathurusinghe 2/36, Charinda Fernando 3/21)

Sampath Bank 181/6 in 29.5overs (R. Priyadarshana 20, Marvan Atapattu 66. Asela Jayasinghe 72; Dinesh Samarasinghe 2/18)

Chandana guides East West to victory

Five wickets and an unbeaten 30 from Upul Chandana helped East West trounce Bartleets by 5 wickets at Braybrooke Place yesterday. Batting first Barleets were shot out for 93 in 30.3 overs. Chandana claiming 5 for 6, Nisitha Rupasinghe 2 for 17 and S. Arunakumar 2 for 28 doing the damage.

In reply East West were in a spot at 41/5 before Chandana (30 n. o) and Dinusha Fernando (22 n.o ) pulled them out of trouble with an unbroken 55 run stand to take take East West to victory.

Bartleets - 93 all out in 30.3 overs (Heshan Tilakaratne 31. S Arunakumar 2/28, N. Rupasinghe 2/7, Upul Chandana 5/6)

East West - 96/5 in 25 overs (Upul Chandana 30 n.o, Dinusha Fernando 22 n.o; Sanjaya Rajapakse 3/22)

Easy for Access

Access recorded an easy 109 run victory over Singer at Maitland Place yesterday.Batting first Access hit up 248/8 in their 50 overs .Opener Indika Galagoda top scored with a fine half century.

In reply Singer were bundled out for 139 in 39.5 overs.Sajith Rupasinghe was the pick of the bowlers claiming 3 for 19 while Gayan Wijeyakoon and Niroshan Bandaratilake picked up two wickets each.

Access-248/8 in 50 overs(I. Galagoda 52, Suresh Perera 22, Niroshan Bandaratilake 27, S. Jayaratne 36 n.o, R. Mapatuna 3/54, T Jayawardene 2/57)

Singer-134 all out in 39.5 overs (M. Silva 25, B. Perera 31, Prabath Kumara 22, Gayan Wijeyakoon 2/16, Niroshan Bandaratilake 2/23, Sajith Rupasinghe 3/190)

More Sports

Return to Sports Contents