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Another
bone-crunching contest today
By
Bernie Wijesekera
The much look forward to CR&FC-Havies second-leg match
will be played today (Sunday August 3), at Longden Place. Kick-off
at 5.00 p.m. This match will be preceded by the Sabaragamuwa Girls
Versus CR&FC Girls match at 4.20 p.m. This match will add flavour
to the traditional tie.
The first-leg
at the 'Park' roused tremendous enthusiasm.
It was one
of the best seen rugby matches at the 'Park' in recent times. In
the end the Red Shirts nudged Havies on the post: 31-29.
Both teams
are evenly matched with a granite set of forwards. It's going to
be a bone-crunching contest with no quarter given and none asked
for.
The fans are
assured of good running rugby at its best with some robust foreign
players on show for both teams. It's going to be an evenly matched
contest.
Havies have
in their fold playmaker Waka, one of the best playing for them in
recent times. Despite a few hiccups here and there the Havies, have
been playing reasonably well this season. The Red Shirts are virtually
fielding a team with a blend of youth and experience. With a fleet-footed
backline the Red Shirts are bound to make gaping holes in their
opponents defence.
In the last
line there is 'never-say-die' Asanga Rodrigo - an extra man in the
line. He constantly forms the overlap.
Foreign
golfers in massive invasion
There
was a massive invasion of the Ridgeways of the Royal Colombo Golf
Club just recently when a galaxy of wild enthusiasts from Dubai
representing the FOGS Golfing Society stormed the course, the Club
House, the Restaurants and Bars in high spirits and warm friendliness
never witnessed before in our golfing circles. Spearheaded by flamboyant
Derek Skehan they studded the 2 days with 4 rounds of golf, contributed
lavishly towards the economic improvement of the pond boys and treated
the Caddies in princely style. The Caddies say that they were so
very well looked after financially that they will not have a rupee
crisis for at least another month.
Their visit
was all too brief and they individually and collectively expressed
absolute disappointment that they could not spare more time for
the RCGC and extend their stay further to envelope the beautiful
courses of Kandy and Nuwara Eliya. There will always be another
time with Lional Almeida, that Tourist Board and I planning a more
comprehensive visit for tour leader Derek Skehan, an extremely smart
golf administrator and an enormously friendly personality.
They were overwhelmed
with the beauty of the Ridgeways and were desperate to experience
Rajawella and Nuwara Eliya but unfortunately time did not permit.
"We shall come again", chipped in Martin Case, "and
bring a bigger playing crowd and our wives", said Keith Homer.
Plans are afloat
now to bring in a few package tours to envelope Rajawella and Nuwara
Eliya. A 3 Course tour ending with a day or 2 on the sea front appears
to be most attractive. 2 Operators are on the job and the Tourist
Board will play their part. Derek Skehan and the boys are desperately
keen to return and with the enthusiasm building up for the 125th
Anniversary of the Royal Colombo Golf Club in August next year,
the 3 clubs in Dubai will certainly be included as participants
in the celebrations of Golf, Lunch, Dinners and the final Banquet.
Finally the
funniest of them all and the live wire of the group we understand
is compiling a dossier on the eating habits and stinging habits
of the reptiles that infest the extreme outer fringes of the Ridgeways
also referred to as the absolute rough areas. He has been there
so often and for such long periods looking for his stray shots that
he is quite conversant with the territory. This information will
be valuable to the Course Superintendent because no local golfer
has ever been in such frightening spots.
Milo
president's trophy
Kingswood favoured to win President's Trophy
The much looked forward Milo President's Trophy commenced
yesterday minus Royal College Colombo. The Sri Lanka Schools Rugby
Association has organised this competition in such a way that the
Reid Avenue School won't be able to participate in this year's tournament.
Without any doubt the priority is Bradby, for sides like Trinity
and Royal. This tournament is not only clashing with the Bradby
but also with the much looked forward club match between league
champions Kandy SC and the CH&FC on August 9 where the semi-finals
of the knock-out will also be worked off on the same day. This will
definitely effect the gates. This factor has been haunting the whole
rugby season because of the schools section of the rugby association
do not see eye-to eye with the SLRFU.
Isipathana
Though Isipatana had a few hiccups early in the season when
they lost to Royal and St. Anthony's, they ended the season being
at number three position in the league. The lads from Havelock Town
are led by third year player and number eight Nimesh De Silva. He
will be expecting his speedy three quarters to deliver the goods.
The Green Shirts have a fine place kicker and an excellent loose
player in Senthil Kumar. He is the hooker of the side. He plays
football for Cooray SC in the "A" Division as well . But
they will face the real acid test when they lock horns with the
"B" Division champions Kingswood College in the quarter
finals. Pathana won the trophy in the inaugural year in 1985 under
Chandana Deepthi. They continued their good work by winning in the
following year as well. But in 1987 they were outclassed by the
Trinity "Lions" led by Tyrell Rajapakse when the lads
from Kandy won by 12-3. So far the Green Shirts have won this trophy
no less than on seven occasions.
S. Thomas'
The lads from Mount Lavinia had a shocking start to the season
when Ananda College edged them out by a mere point (7-8). But their
stunning performance was the game against St. Anthony's in Kandy
which they won 24-0. Since they lost four important games in the
league, they ended in fifth position. Their heavy and mobile sets
of forwards have created most of the try scoring opportunities for
the Mount Lavinia School this year. With players in the calibre
of Thajudeen, Karthelis and Rajapakse in their ranks they are out
to regain lost pride. The Thomians have won the President's Trophy
four times and they are the only side to win on three consecutive
years when they won the trophy from 1989 to 1991. Their first hurdle
will be with St. Peter's and if they can pass this game then they
are set to make it to the final this year.
St. Peters's
The defending Milo Champions of 2002 started the season as
favourites but they ended the season finishing sixth only ahead
of Rajans. Their hopes were shattered when their star winger Mohamed
Rinaz sustained injury in the game against Trinity. This young lad
holds the record for the most number of tries by a player in one
season when he overtook Hisham Abdeen's long standing record. Though
the Peterites have a good set of forwards and speedy three quarters,
their main concern was the vital linking position of scrum half
and not having a reliable place kicker. With nothing to lose, the
lads from Bambalapitiya are all out to go for a win against the
Thomians. Mohamed Rinaz who is tipped to lead the side next year
is a doubtful starter for this knock-out clash. Peterites won the
President's trophy once in 1995.
Kingswood
The lads from Kandy who are the "B" Division champions
this year are favoured to win in this year's President Trophy knock-out
tournament. They have not only scored the most number of tries this
season (28) but also they have beaten their traditional rivals Wesley
in the Blaze Trophy series. This champion side is coached by Ronnie
Ibrahim who comes from a sporty family of six where all have played
for Kingswood at top level with four of them captaining the school
side and two of them representing the national team. The Kandy lads'
plus point is that they have a reliable place kicker. They have
won all their tournament matches and is the only unbeaten side this
year. Kingswood have performed exceptionally well this season and
are all out to give the Green Shirts a tough time in the quarter
finals. If the lads from Kandy can pass their first hurdle against
the Green Shirts, then they will go all the way to the grand final.
Kingswood won the President Trophy in 2000.
Wesley
The lads from Borella ended up as runners-up to Royal in the
league this year. They also ended up as the losing finalists of
the President Trophy last year to the same school. They created
the shock of the season when they beat Royal College 22-18 with
the help of a controvercial penalty try. Though they have outclassed
top sides such as S. Thomas' and St. Peter's their main concern
is the consistency of their form this season. They should make maximum
use of the good ball won by their forwards by working it down to
the three quarters. Their link man Rukshan Omar and Sri Lankan player
Badurdeen are the two key players in their side and they have shown
excellent form this season.
St. Anthony's
The lads from Katugastota had a mixed season winning against
the Green Shirts, St. Peter's and Wesley and lost to Royal. They
were humiliated by the Thomians at Nittawela 24-0. This really put
their brakes on when they were set to win the Milo "A"
Division. They are led by stocky Suranga Swarnatilake, a youth player
who had an excellent season but lately after sustaining an injury
has effected the team. They will definitely make it to the semi-finals.
Ananda
The lads from Maradana who were the runners-up in the "B"
Division to Kingswood made a last minute entry when Royal were kept
out of the tournament. They started the season with a shocking win
over the Thomians at 8-7. They are coached by rugby legend of Sri
Lanka Hisham Abdeen who had moulded the young side into a winning
outfit.
Dharmaraja
The Rajans who had a bad season losing all their tournament
matches should consider themselves lucky playing in this year's
tournament.
4/8/2003
St. Anthony's Vs Dharmaraja 4.00 p.m.
Kingswood Vs Isipatana 5.00 p.m.
-SJ
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