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Defending champs Kingswood laid low
Defending champions of the Under 17 Division One All Island Rugby Kingswood was knocked out of the cup having lost to S. Thomas Mt Lavinia and Asoka. Another surprise omission was that of the Isipathanians who beat Mahanama but drew their match against Vidyartha in the matches played at the Havelock Park yesterday.

The teams to qualify to the quarter final in the cup section are: S.Thomas' Mt Lavinia, Lumbini MV, Wesley, Thurstan, St Peter's, Maliyadeva, Trinity and Vidyartha. The teams to qualify to the plate championship are: Kingswood, Richmond, DSS, Royal Panadura, Zahira 'B', St. Joseph's and Isipathana while only three teams: Mahanama, Ananda and Asoka MV were left out to battle in the Bowl section. Asoka MV will automatically qualify to the finals while the other berth to the Bowl final will be decided between Mahanama and Ananda.

Two teams from Kandy - St. Sylvetser's, and St. Anthony's along with St. Aloysius Galle, Science College and Carey failed to turn up with their teams having confirmed their participation.. The quarter-finals are scheduled to start at 9.00 A.M. today while the finals are scheduled to be worked off at 4.30 P.M. at Havelock Park with the chief guest for the occasion being Mohan Balasuriya, President of the SLRFU.

Meanwhile as expected Ehilayagoda MV emerged the Under 17 Division Two cup champions when they defeated Moratu MV 12-0 in the final played at the Thurstan grounds yesterday. Piliyandala MMV beat Embilipitiya MV 5-0 to win the plate championship while Kegalu MV beat Bandaranayake MV Gampaha 12-5 to take the Bowl championship.-MSA

Negombo Youth SC create history
By M. Shamil Amit
Having being the second best soccer team in Sri Lanka for the last two seasons Negombo Youth SC created history when they clinched the Premier League Soccer Championships this year which was conducted by the Football Federation of Sri Lanka. They also become the first outstation team to ever lay the hands in the premier soccer tournament of Sri Lanka.

The champions climbed to the top of the points table at the half way of the tournament and never fell back maintaining the position till the completion of the tournament. In all the 14 teams that participated in the tournament played 26 matches of which they won 18 drew three and lost five, in the process collecting 57 points. Police SC who were the runner up won 15 matches losing five and six ending in draws collected 51 points.

It is a red letter day for Negombo Youth SC which was formed over four and a half decades ago to win a major tournament in such a short period whilst brushing shoulders with stronger and prominent clubs such as Saunders SC, Victory SC and Ratnam SC who were the the kings of local soocer in the past. The team is aiming for a double this season as they are also in the top position in the ongoing FA Championship.

The team led by national player Azmeer has four other national players in the side in Nalin, Aneez, S.P. Wickramatileke and Kumara with two Nigerians Y. Ademola and Chuko Alagesan to support them. Vice captain and the goal keeper of the side M. M. Naushad created a record by having played in all the 26 matches in the tournament.

Red shirts run riot in the mud
By Bernie Wijesekera
CR&FC, strong contenders for this year's league title, inspired by an attractive sponsorship package by Dialog GSM, ran riot in the mud when they went on a try spree to demolish Old Zahirians by 91 points (8 goals and 7 tries) to 8 (a try and a drop goal) in a Premier 'A' League match at Longden Place last evening.

It was running rugby at its best when the entire CR back division capably marshaled by No 8 Savantha de Saram, who inspired his team-mates to indulge in running rugby. They led 50-5 at the short break. The Old Zahirians, though they had to confront a well-drilled team, was not found wanting. They played hard with some ferocious tackling, but the pressure was too much for them to hold back the marauding CR back division, who went on the rampage. Once the sluice gates were open, it was an avalanche of tries.

Old Zahirians had their moment of glory when they broke through the red fortress to cross the line through scrum-half Rinoz Hanis for an unconverted try in the initial half.
After the turn-around CR added 41 points to the tally. Play-maker full-back Asanga Rodrigo, constantly forming the overlap, scored three tries and arraowd eight tries.
Early in the second half Old Zahirians fly-half Rizvan Mannan fired a beautiful drop goal 57-8.

CR opened scoring through winger Nishantha Kumar, followed by Sumedha Jayasinghe, Mustaq, Kodagoda, Haren Kaluarachchi and Chintaka Abeykoon to lead 50-5.

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