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Kandy
SC was at their best The contributory factor to their success KSC had attacking and defending players aplenty, some of them at beck and call on the bench. The Red Shirts though beaten - on this day Kandy could have beaten any side. But CR in no way were disgraced. In the second half CR kept on hammering at the white shirted team's goal-line, after being led 21-7 at the turn around. Kandy, were made to look bit tiring against this onslaught. Their eyes were more on the man than on the ball. CR were robbed of a certain try, when they hammered the KSC defense to a standstill with a ferocious forwards rush led by Savantha de Saram. They did cross the line. But linesman, Priyantha Gunaratne, showed a blind eye, nor thought it fit to bring to the notice of Ref. Jamaldeen, who was unsighted. Central Province. Without doubt, Nalaka Weerakkody was the showpiece for KSC in the last line. His booming kicks to touch retrieved much pressure in the second half, when the CR back division was going hammer and tongs. With his deceptive running he hardly got tackled. It was a Nalaka 'special' that earned Kandy the last try. He punted ahead intelligently for Sanjeewa Jayasinghe, who sprinted to pick the loose ball to go over. Nalaka, added the extra points amid rounds of applauses 31-17. It was a game that CR could have pulled it off, but it was a sad tale of woes. They were badly let down by fly-half Roshan Peiris. He missed three spot kick from kicking range. Normally a reliable kicker, which cost the Red Shirts dearly in the end. There were two players, who dished out individual brilliance. The seasoned "Kandyan Express", old Rajan Centre, Indrajith Bandaranayake. He ran like a gazelle to score two superb tries. Amiable 'Banda', if he could maintain his fitness, he could still be concerned to play in the top brigade. The other player was last year's Royal skipper and national youth player. Haren Kalurachchi (CR & FC) Mild-mannered Haren, is the chip of the old block. Haren, ran with the ball at every given opportunity as the first centre. He scored a spectacular try against the run of play. Wiry flanker, Pavithra Fernando, a roving forward, gave his heart out for the team's cause. In the end he got confused and needed medical attention. There was hardly to choose between the two teams - both evenly matched 3 tries each. It was Nalaka's spot kicks that proved a winning factor. He contributed 16 points to the tally. The game was played in the correct spirit and both captains Pradeep Basnayake and utility player, Asanga Rodrigo contributed much to it. The crowd control and security arrangements was good, with Police dogs, in attendance. The organisers left no stone unturned. With a professional management Kandy's rugby future looks good, but the game in general leaves much to be desired. The controlling body must take serious note of this. They should talk less and get their act together. In the long un it is the game at national level that matters. Are trophies more important than the game? What
went wrong and where? The Minister of Sports, the controversial-ridden Interim Committee and the national selectors are answerable. It was bad planning, no doubt. The Int. Committees kept on changing at the whims and fancies of the powers that be. A total disarray. Frame laws or even amend the Sports Law to bring forth to run its affairs with men of professional background. Entrust the power to the clubs to pick its officials at a general meeting. When other countries are infusing youngsters with an eye for the future, but the selectors here are depending on the aging cricketers. Its upto the selectors to roll over them steadily than await for a mass exodus. Sri Lanka's success winning (nine Tests) against weak opposition, too has led to an inevitable aging. As a result the decline, too can be sudden. Best was defeating Pakistan away 2-1 and a three-nil whitewash (one-dayers). Facts are stubborn. Defeats at home 2-0 against Pakistan (Tests). The English team (away) - with a bull dog grit after losing the solitary Oval Test in England to the wiles of Muralitharan (16 Test wickets). England with a well laid plan by coach Duncan Fletcher and Nasir Hussain did well to counter the wiles of the ace spinner. This is the start of the decline. Even the experienced cricketer like Aravinda de Silva, in the middle failed to halt the middle order collapse. England will be proud to mention to the cricketing world, that they have mastered the spin wizard. He took 14 wkts. for 421 runs 101 balls per wicket. The English batsmen had no super stars unlike their Lankan counterparts, but tormented the bowler with their grit. Some of the seniors in the Lankan team may not be moving their feet as fast as they once did. Its not the form, but the fitness, perseverance and endurence to stand in a five-day game. In the just concluded tour of England Sri Lankan seniors have not shown up well. This was evident firstly in Sharjah, got bashed by Pakistan in the final - the worst defeat. In its wake followed the 2-0 Test defeat and a 5-1 battering in the one-dayers. Obviously the selectors must have the guts to give the players the tap on the shoulder for the sake of the country's future as done by other cricketing nations (in the sub-continent). Apparently they neither have the courage nor the guts to do so for the sake of the game. They are appointed
by the Minister of Sports. He should set the guideline. Injury-prone
players Infusing young blood for the future has paid dividends for them to reach greater heights. Dashing opener Marcus Trescothick is one of them. Todate he has scored two Test 'tons' and two one-day 100s against Sri Lanka. He has the making of a future England captain. For record - Beat Pakistan 1-0 (in a three Test series) in Pakistan. Skipper Hussain said, on that tour - beating Sri Lanka was much more important, in their own backyard. With a concerted team effort did well to win the series 2-1, sans big names like Jayasuriya, Aravind and 'Murali' within eight months had four consecutive Test series wins. Zimbabwe (1-0), West Indies (3-1) Pakistan (1-0) and Sri Lanka (2-1). Lost the Ashes series 4-1 to Australia. But the most commendable was chasing 400 runs in the last innings, with Mark Butcher making 171. Sri Lanka for the first time playing a 3-Test series, in England. But England did well to win 2-0. India's young
'uns to the fore.... Losing the top order - including Ganguly (60) and Sachin Tendulkar cheaply -165 for 5 Shewag, (as opener) Yuvraj and M. Kaif playing under pressure repaired the middle order. Showed they are made of steel. Singh and Kaif were a revelation no sooner they took guard. In the end won a heart-throbbing final. Incidentally the Lankans lacked this mental toughness despite big names. Singh was the most outstanding batsman in the U-19 World Cup. Pin,
remembered at Ridgeways Last Saturday the Ridgeways lit up with a splendid competition for the Pin Fernando Trophy and the excellent performances were a tribute to the doyen Pin. Munsoor also known as 'Chutti' played a remarkably outstanding round, making it possibly the best ever in his golfing career. His gross 73 off a handicap of 7 par gave him a tremendous nett 66 picking up birdies at the 5th, 6th, 7th, 12th and 15th. A great effort by methodical and calculating striker of the ball he collected the handsome Pin Fernando Trophy for an outstanding performance. Coming behind him with a splendid round was Julian Dias on nett 67 followed by Sanjay Gunewardena, who is Norman Gunewardena's bright spark grandson on 68. Sanjay has dropped to a 16 handicap within a couple of months showing evidence that Grandpa's Friday clinic is quite effective. His card was adorned by birdies on the 6th, 13th & 18th which is pretty good for a kid. Bringing up the rear further down were some sprightly performers. Lalin Senadhira on nett 69, Tissa Jayasinghe, Rohan Perera and Primal Eijenayake on nett 70 and S.A.K. Abeywardena, Ranil Pathirana and Jit Wanigasekera on nett par rounds. Two dozen regulars fell by the wayside in the disaster zone and a few contributed to confetti. The postmortems were funfilled with "formalin" Rahula outstanding. One of the most astonishing tee shots came off the driver handled by Satoru Tanokura. On the 8th tee the 8 handicapper slammed into a drive that stunned his partners. The carry was almost 300 yards and the impact was so accurate and forceful that the ball careered speedily to settle at a spot that measured 372 yards. A tremendous shot with no parallel on record. Tanokura won the special award for the longest drive and also had his name registered in the book of great achievements. Then came the magnificent Maurice Macpherson affectionately referred to as Mr. Candlelight. His whole system was shattered and he refused to believe his eyes when his tee shot on the 9th settled 60 inches from the pin. He collected a very special award getting closest to the pin and beating over a century of competitors. To add further glory he had 2 birdies in his round which gave him and the family visiting immense pleasure. Chutti Munsoor picked the other special awards. Most number of birdies, lowest gross score 73 and lowest nett score 66. A tremendous day for Munsoor. Mother Superior Pam Fernando merged superbly with Lionel Almeida to organise a neat and compact Award Ceremony minus the jazzy frills, Lallith Ramanayake made an impressive address thanking Priya Fernando and United Tractor & Equipment for their helpful sponsorship. |
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