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Sports

SLARDAR RALLY
Ranasinghe poses red hot challenge
Channaka de Silva reporting from Hambantota
Unfancied Prasanna Ranasinghe was posing a tremendous challenge to established competitors by the end of the third and penultimate stage of the Mobil-Autocolour SLARDAR 1000 Rally yesterday.

Ranasinghe driving a Mitsubishi Pajero was leading the standings jointly with defending champion Rizvi Farouk. The year 2000 champion Pubudu Wickrema, one of the strongest favourites for the prestigious title was overall lying fourth.

Ranasinghe who is representing Southern Rally Team has brilliant navigator Andrew de Silva to support him and registered a magnificent second leg on Friday finishing with just four debits to get the third position in the leg. He also finished a good fifth in the first stage and is placed really high overall.

Another skilled driver from South Ashhar Hameem won the third stage jointly with Ranasinghe at just three debits each but unfortunately remains out of contention as he had to miss most of the fist stage due to a blown radiator.

As expected, among the other top runners by close of third stage were Stefan Furkhan and experienced Mahesh Gammampila.

The first stage was flagged off at the S. de S. Jayasinghe Stadium, Dehiwala on Friday night and drivers drover through the night to reach Rakwana at the end of stage one. After a two hour break the competitors numbering to 23 began the second stage from there to finish at Hotel Oasis in the morning at 6.30 before taking off for the third stage another four hours later.

The first stage was really slow and even Pubudu Wickrema who did best had accumulated 14 debit points. Competitors complained of heavy fog in the mountain area for this first stage delay.

Meanwhile Motor racing governing body Sri Lanka Association of Motor Sports (SLAMS) interim committee Secretary Dan Dissanayake has informed organisers of the rally Sri Lanka Association of Racing Drivers and Riders (SLARDAR) that SLAMS is unable to send a Steward as required by the sports rules. He had alleged that he is unable to send a Steward as the club seems not satisfied with every steward appointed by them. However a SLARDAR official said that they have only protested against two stewards appointed by the SLAMS as they were allegedly biased. The club official added that SLAMS interim committee has created a sort of a record by their failure to appoint a steward. "This was the first time in narly 25 years that SLAMS failed to find a steward for a national level raacing event" he said.

School rugby
Isipatana in form
High riding Isipatana MV, who are still to taste defeat outclassed St. Sylvester's Kandy by 32 points (a goal and 5 tries) to 3 (a penalty) in their Inter-School rugby match at Longden Place yesterday. At the break Isipatana led 17-0.

Playing controlled rugby the Havelock Town lads, who in an earlier encounter held Royal to a thrilling 5 all draw and also beat Wesley, ran in six tries. Isipatana are still unbeaten in their Group. Referee Orville Fernando (BW)

Niyaz 18 tries
By M. Shamil Amit
Thurstan, who started the Inter-School rugby season on a promising note were routed 0-63 by St. Peter's in their schools rugby match at Bambalapitiya yesterday. At the breather St. Peter's led 39-0. The Peterites collected their tries through four goals and seven tries.

Winger Mohammed Niyaz was in outstanding form for the Peterites scoring seven tries. This hard running winger has now taken his tally of tries for the season to 18.

Dananjaya Nonis, Philip Asangaratnam, Malik Perera and Pasindu Perera scored the other tries of which Philip goaled four tries.

All Island Scrabble contest
The 13th All-Island scrabble competition will be held on August 3 and 4, at the Sumithrayo Training Centre, 60, Horton Place Col. 7.

This popular tournament has focused much interest from all age groups - drawn from all walks of life.

It's being organised by the Sri Lanka Scrabble League - a non-profit organisation. Its aim is to popularise and promote it country wide. Since its inception it has generated much enthusiasm among the juniors and seniors alike. Players of the calibre of Missaka Warusawitharana, Naveen Fernando, Suresh Chinniah have put Sri Lanka in the world scrabble map, according to Shaila Amalean chairperson, tournament committee.

It will be run in three groups - (Open), Juniors (Under-15), Sub-Juniors (below 12). Entry forms are available from :- Rochelle Soza 1/1, Hena Rd., Mt. Lavinia( Phone:734406) and Anushika Kuruppu, 60, Horton Place, Col. 7. Entries close on July 21. - B.W.

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