By Bernie Wijesekera
Newcomers to big-time rugby Galle, who will be playing in the big league, in the coming season, gave a heart-warming performance, to defeat the strong CH&FC 'A' 12-7 to enter the Cup quarters in the second Western Province RFU Under24 seven-a-side tournament at Longden Place yesterday.
This tournament is organised by the WPRFU to give playing opportunities to school leavers and for emerging clubs, resulted in four new teams - Panadura RFC, Wattala RFC, Super Stars (Gampaha) and Peterson SC (who are staging a comeback after five years).
There were some keen contests despite the humid conditions. The Galle lads with a never-say-die attitude marshalled by Kumar Abeywardena will be concerned at the finish for the Cup title, along with Army and CR 'A', who will lock-horns in the quarters, Navy, Police and Old Zahirians A.
This year's tournament which is being played in eight groups, has attracted 24 teams. The tournament is being sponsored by W.S.R. Fernando (Pvt.) Ltd. Its Managing Director Sunil Fernando will be the chief guest. Today's matches will start at 9 a.m. and the finals of the Shield, Bowl, Plate and the Cup will start at 4 p.m.
Training in wheelchair tennis begins
Tennis training commenced yesterday at the Taj Samudra Courts for disabled young soldiers. A tournament on wheelchair tennis will be held in due course. Picture shows a disabled soldier being trained forthe event. The coaching is by Gihan Dalpathadu and the event is being conducted by Rotary Club of Mount Lavinia. Pic by J. Weerasekera.
The Ruhunu Super Sprint 2002 will take place on March 31 at the Sri Lanka Air Force Base, Koggala to coincide with the 15th anniversary of the Ruhunu Motor Sports Club of Matara, the sole organisers of the meet.
Ruhunu Motor Sports Club, the premier motor sports club of Ruhuna, organised the first ever Quarter Mile sprint in Sri Lanka successfully on June 26, 1999 and over 135 competitors participated. It should be mentioned that this event helped many novices who participated to enter the motor racing arena and this year too many novices are expected to participate.
Due to the security situation in the country last year, they were unable to conduct the event last year.
Entry forms could be obtained from 'Fibretec', No 64, Vajira Road, Bambalapitiya (Tel No: 580251) and from Dharmadasa Industries, No 69, Hakmana Road, Matara (Tel. No: 041-22376). For further details contact Ranil Samarasinghe on Tel numbers: 041-23851, o41-23852 and Fax Number: 041-23853/25030. Entries close on Monday, March 25.
KARACHI, March 23 (Reuters) - Pakistan will demand compensation if the International Cricket Council (ICC) fails to persuade India to end its cricketing boycott of Pakistan.
"I have told the ICC executive board members that Pakistan should be given compensation if India continues its refusal to play against us," Pakistan cricket board chairman Lt. General Tauqir Zia told Reuters on Saturday.
"I told the board members...that Pakistan can't endorse the ICC's 10-year programme if India continues to cancel scheduled series against us," Zia added.
"In the ICC programme, we play India at home or away six times. I told the board members to consider the financial losses we have suffered or will face if India continues its cricket boycott of us."
The Indian government has refused to allow its team to play Pakistan since 2000, saying Pakistan aids rebels in Kashmir, a charge Islamabad denies. India called off matches against Pakistan twice last year.
"The ICC president and chief executive will write to the Indian government to change their stance. They will also travel to India for this purpose," Zia said.
"The executive board also decided that request be made to Mr Nelson Mandela to use his influence to convince the Indians to resume cricket ties with us," he added.
"But if all these things fail, then we (will) seek compensation under the ICC's 10-year programme for any cancelled series," Zia said.
ICC president Malcolm Gray has said the ICC cannot interfere in government or political decisions.
Sports briefs
Horse Races at Nuwara Eliya
The Sri Lanka Turf Club is organizing the Horse Races this year at Nuwara Eliya on 6th, 10th, 14th, 17th and 20th of April. The Organising Committee has drawn up a interesting card of events. The main event will be the "Governors Cup" sponsored by SriLankan Airlines on 14th April.
The main sponsor in SriLankan Airlines, "Kandos Trophy" sponsored by Ceylon Chocolates Ltd., in memory of late Mr. Upali Wijewardene, who was one time Chairman Board of Stewards and who kept the flag flying and revived horse racing once again in Nuwara Eliya, will be held on 10th April.
Hilton JAIC Soccer Tournament
The Sports Club of Hilton JAIC Tower has organised and Inter-Department seven-a-side Soccer Tournament at the Pedris Grounds, Havelock Town on Sunday 24th March from 8 a.m. onwards.
This is a much looked forward to event in the calander. Awards for the "Man of the Match", "Best Goal Keeper", most number of goals scorer and of cause attractive cash awards for winners and runners up team are on offer.
Carsten Schieck, General Manager, Hilton JAIC Tower will give away the prizes. The Tournament is been organised by Nazeer Jayah, Sports Secretary, Hilton JAIC Tower.
Rohan uncontested
Rohan Amarasinghe, one of Ananda College's finest athletic products and Public Schools coloursmen and former Secretary of the Amateur Athletic Association (AAA) on four occasions was elected uncontested as Secretary of the AAA for the fifth time at the AGM held recently.
Rohan Amarasinghe, a former Ananda College athletic captain, has worked tirelessly for the promotion and upliftment of athletics in the country. The introduction of an Identity Card system and directory for Provincial Officials was his brainchild.
Coached by K.L.F. Wijedasa, Abeysinghe represented the athletic team of Loughborough College when he was in the UK for higher studies.
After hanging up his spikes, Amarasinghe has continued to live a full life of athletics abroad. At present a Vice President of the Mercantile Athletic Federation. - BM
By Bernie Wijesekera
Fern Tree Gully D.C.A. will be sending a strong Under-17 cricket team, to play here next month (during the April school vacation).
With a view to develop the game at grassroots level, they have introduced an age group structure - Under 9, 10,11, 13, 15 and 17 to indulge in competitive cricket. This will lay the foundation for them to play with confidence at senior level in district cricket in Victoria.
According to the President of the FTGD Jnr. Association Stephen Walter, this exposure for the youngsters to play in Sri Lanka, was made possible, thanks to a joint effort by the Sri Lankan Cricket Association in Victoria and the Sri Lanka Players' Association here.
It was the brainchild of SLCFV trustee, sports promoter, David Cruse. Sri Lankan-born, Cruse, has been in the forefront in fostering friendly relationships between Sri Lanka and Fern Tree Gully DCA. In year 2000 the senior team toured here.
Sri Lanka players: Roshan Mahanama, C. Hathurusinghe and Ruwan Kalpage in the past played for the District team. They indulged in coaching too.
Walter, commended David who has been supporting district cricket and promoting Lanka's heritage via sport. He has also promised to make it a reciprocal tour. The Lankan juniors will be invited to play in Victoria in 2004.
The 9-day itinerary will include matches in Colombo, Kandy and Galle. They will visit places of historic interest - a visit to N'Eliya.
The squad is: Michael Cadd, Knoxfield; Issac Tua, Lee Goddard and Brett Neilsen, Mt. Gate; Kalpa Alwis and Steve Oushoorn, Rowville; Adam Thornton, Josh Duff and James Tate - Eildon Park; Sean Alston, Jarrod Moody and Ryan Williams - Lysterfield; Edian Van Den Bosch - Scores by/Ferndale; Andrew Devenish, Stephen Seymour, Ben Stallworthy and Aaron Walter - Johnson Park.
Officials: Glen Stallworthy, S. Walter, Sandra Neilson, Wayne Thornton, Peter and Dana Neilson
By M.Shamil Amit
The 38th Annual Six Mile Open Sea Swim conducted by the Kinross Swimming and Life Saving Club will be held on March 30 (Saturday) starting from Wellawatte to Mt Lavinia and back. It will commence at 7.30 a.m. opposite the club premises.
The principal sponsor of this event are Bank of Ceylon who has been supporting this event for the last several years. Last year at the 37th Annual Swim 154 competitors comprising of 147 male competitors and 7 female competitors participated in this popular event. This year the club is expecting a larger number of competitors. Which has become popular in the years gone by..
Last year the men's race was won by Ajith Weerakody of the Sri Lanka Navy with Pushpa Chandani representing Sri Devananda Maha Vidyalaya, Ambalangoda taking the women's race while Sri Devananda Maha Vidyalaya winning both the men's and women's team race.
Colombo Super Cross 2002 Meet will be held for the second successive year on the 23rd and 24th of March, which will be sponsored by Coca-Cola.
This long-awaited event is organized by the Sri Lanka Army Motor Sports Committee (SLAMSC) in association with the Battaramulla Sports Club (BSC), the Sri Lanka racing Riders Association (SLRRA) and The Ceylon Motor Sports Club (CMSC).
For the first time, Coca-Cola will be sponsoring the event, with a live broadcast on SUN FM, ans Hiru FM, while Rupavahini's Channel Eye will also have live coverage of the event.
Lakshman Peiris said at the Press Conference "Coca-Cola has always been associated with events that have the potential of creating excitement and energy among consumers. We at Coca-Cola believe that Colombo Super Cross is going to be such an event that will make an impact on all those who are associated." with events that have the potential of creating excitements and energy among consumers. We at Coca-Cola believe that Colombo Super Cross is going to be such an event that will make an impact on all those who are associated".
The event will be staged at the same venue, which is on the approach to the Parliament, by the side of the Diyawanna Oya at Battaramulla.
The participants will be both local and international. All profits of this meet will be utilized for the welfare of disabled soldiers of the Sri Lanka Army.
In the past school cricket matches proved great crowd pullers for the crazy fans islandwide. But sad to mention it has lost interest due to pathetic performances displayed by the schoolboys from the respective schools.
There are quite a number of factors for this downfall. Defensive cricket being the order. No entertainment for the fans to enjoy. It's defensive batting. One step forward two steps backward. Even after taking control, they hardly open out the game, but play safe and go for a first innings points win to be in contention for the final round in the competition. Even the heads of schools are answerable for this on-going trend. The players should be given a dossier of the fundamentals of the game.Sports should foster understanding, but not enmity. This was even endorsed by the President of the PCB, Lt. Gen. Tauqir Zia in an interview with The Sunday Times. Apparently biased reporting and not writing what you see is also a contributory factor.
Truthful reporting in turn could help especially for the schools to take remedial measures. The schoolboys at grassroots level should be taught to learn their books and learn to play the game in the correct spirit.
Today the match starts at 10.00 a.m. unlike in the past it was at 12 noon. Despite commencing at 12 noon its cricket luv'ly cricket all the way. Secondly, competitive cricket, too has not helped the game, but hatred and jealousy and unabated complaints in the end if they were at the receiving end. Weak management, too contributed much, to this effect. Gone are the days when there was at least one talented player from a school, who was fit enough to gain national selection. There were plenty of schoolboys playing for the country whilst at school, during the past.
Sri Lanka don't boast of an academy unlike in some cricketing nations. But the schools are the nursery. Umpires, too have taken to coaching, but the levels have not improved or the spirit of the game. It's win at all cost. - BW
PERTH, Australia, March 23 (Reuters) - England all-rounder Ben Hollioake was killed in a car crash in the early hours of Saturday, Australian Broadcasting Corp reported.
The 24-year-old Surrey player, who made test appearances in August 1997 against Australia and a year later versus Sri Lanka, crashed on Mill Point Road in South Perth and died at the scene.
His sports car spun out of control and hit a brick wall just after midnight Perth time (1600 GMT), ABC Radio reported.
His 22-year-old female passenger received head and chest injuries and was taken to a Perth hospital, the report said.
ABC Radio said relatives had been travelling behind Melbourne-born Hollioake's car and were soon on the scene of the accident.
"The vehicle spun out of control into a brick property fence," Australian Associated Press quoted Inspector Ian Duggan of Australia police in Perth as saying.
Inspector Greg Medhurst of the Australia police told Sky Sports television that their crash inquiry unit was already investigating the cause of the accident.
"The game was pretty irrelevant," England captain Nasser Hussain said at the close of the third day in the second test against New Zealand in Wellington.
"Cricket is a side issue when you've just lost a friend who only a few weeks ago we were mucking around with, having dinner with and having a laugh with.
New Zealand captain Stephen Fleming said: "It was a sad day for international cricket in general. A number of our players played youth cricket with Ben Hollioake. He was a wonderful talent and a nice guy."
Paul Sheldon, Surrey's chief executive, said: "This is devastating news. It's terrible to lose such a supreme talent as Ben's, just as he was beginning to realise his full potential as a cricketer."
Hollioake was visiting his parents on holiday after England's one-day internationals in New Zealand. England were beaten 3-2, but Hollioake did not play due to a knee injury sustained in India during the six-match one-day series which ended in a 3-3 draw.
The all-rounder, who had a 75-match first-class career, had just signed another year's contract with Surrey after being courted by Warwickshire and was desperate to get back into the England team before next year's World Cup.
Hollioake, whose older brother Adam is Surrey captain, was born in Melbourne on November 11, 1977 and made his test debut in the same game as his brother — in the fifth test against Australia at Nottingham's Trent Bridge.
Hollioake was the youngest player to represent England since Brian Close in 1949.
Regarded as more of a one-day specialist, he made his debut in one-day internationals in 1997 scoring 63 at Lord's against Australia in the third match of the series.
He played little until last summer's recall to the England side for the triangular tournament with Pakistan and Australia. He scored 37 not out against Australia and shared a 70-run stand with Owais Shah in 7.2 overs in the game with Pakistan.
Those performances saw him selected to tour Zimbabwe, India and New Zealand as part of England's build-up to the World Cup.
In his first-class career, he scored 2,794 runs at 25.87 and took 126 wickets at 33.45. In 20 one-day internationals, he totalled 309 runs at 20.60 including two 50s. His 63 on debut was his highest score.
DUBAI, March 23 (Reuters) - Frankie Dettori rode a superbly judged race as Godolphin's Essence of Dubai wore down long time leader Total Impact to win the group two UAE Derby on Saturday.
American jockey Gary Stevens, who landed the Godolphin Mile in the previous race, looked set for a quick double when Total Impact set sail for home 800 metres from home in the 10 furlongs (2km) test at Nad Al Sheba. Stevens's charge drew two lengths clear but Dettori, who had settled Essence of Dubai at the back of the field, produced a storming late run in the straight to win by half a length.
Ibn Al Haitham, ridden by Richard Hills, was two and a quarter lengths further back in third place.
By M.Shamil Amit
Today the SSC grounds will be of carnival atmosphere where after a hectic round of entertaining cricket of the Elephant Lemonade Limited over knockout tournament have been completed and now the stage is set for the final and crucial game to be fought between S.Thomas' and St Peter's two of the best schools who have fought their way to grab this coveted cup.
Both the Thomians and the Peterites had their form checked in the run up to the final. The Thomians outclassed the hapless Meepawala Amarasuriya MV in the first round and then made short work of Richmond Galle.
HONG KONG, March 23 (Reuters) - Sri Lanka will meet Morocco in a Bowl quarter-final in the World Sevens Series rugby union tournament lined up to be played here today.
In the Pool A Games played yesterday Sri Lanka went down fighting to Scotland at 10-19 and then lost to Portugal at 0-33.
On Friday the Sri Lankans were beaten 51-0 by New Zealand.
Nevertheless it was a good performance by Sri Lanka against far superior opposition.
In the Cup Quarters giants New Zealand will meet Argentina, Fijii will clash with Australia, Samoa will lock-horns with England and Canada will be up against Wales.
Cup quarter-final: New Zealand v Argentina; Fiji v Australia; Samoa v England; Wales v Canada.
Bowl quarter-final: Japan v Singapore; Russia v Taiwan; Morocco v Sri Lanka; Thailand v China.
Plate quarter-final: South Africa v Papua New Guinea; South Korea v France; Portugal v Scotland; Hong Kong v United States.
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