Sports

Sports

Opportunities to the fraternity
The last weekend belonged to mercantile rugby. The Mercantile Rugby Association held the 35th mercantile annual rugby sevens 2005 at Longdon Place. This year’s championship was sponsored by Dialog. The event was well organized and met the objectives of the Mercantile Rugby Association. That is promoting rugby, bringing people together through rugby and providing job opportunities for rugby players.

The format of the game this year was for 10 teams to vie for the Cup. The four losing quarter finalists of the cup played for the Plate. There were twelve teams each competing for the Bowl and the Shield. This provided a platform for even rugby standards among likes. Therefore the standard of rugby on both days was enjoyed by the spectators. The aspect of bringing people together was very much evident with ardent supporters present and cheering their teams. Seylan bank was the best supported team. Butani, Ceylinco, Brandix, MAS Holdings were the other teams who had a good ground support. There were also many events and competitions for spectators.

The Cup was won by Butani who beat the much fancied Seylan Bank in the Final. Butani beat MAS holdings while Seylan Bank beat John Keels to enter the Final. Last years Champions Sampath fell off the race at the initial stages while the absence of last years cup runners up Access was felt. The plate was won by Butani B beating Ceylinco A. The Bowl Champions were Ewis while Ceylinco B won the Shield.

Present on the occasion as a guest of honour was the Father of Late Mohan Daniel a former secretary of Mercantile Rugby. Mr. Paul Daniel who is 100 years old--.he gave away the Mohan Daniel Memorial Challenge Trophy for the best player of the tournament.

Mercantile rugby is looking forward to the year 2006. They hope to organize a “Super Sevens” of mercantile rugby in March for the top 16 teams. They also propose to have a touch rugby tournament. These are in addition to their annual seven tournaments. With the forward march of rugby in Sri Lanka the mercantile sector which is a vital arm in job creation for rugby players intend to keep pace. According to Roshan Tissera the Senior Vice president they hope to manage the envisaged job bank for rugby players. Another of the dreams of the SLRFU will then see bearing fruit. The Job Bank for rugby players I am told will be managed by mercantile rugby with the assistance of Dialog
It is an often talked about aspect is that problems of crowds start with the gestures of players and officials. It is therefore necessary that unsporting behaviour be checked at tournaments of this nature. There is a need for those responsible of driving the engine of growth to give an example to lesser mortals of society.

The news from Pakistan is that the Sri Lankan less than 19 team have done well with a win over Kazakhstan after having being beaten by Korea the champions of the last tournament. It seems that Korea is set to clash with Japan for the 1st and 2nd place. Unconfirmed reports are that Sri Lanka has been beaten by Thailand on the 15th. By 25 points to 10. This will leave them to battle with Chinese Taipei on Saturday for 5th Place. Winners will take a place in the world under 19 championships.

Mercantile Rugby 7s rules need amendments
The president of the Mercantile Rugby section agreed that the Mercantile Rugby ‘sevens’ was lop-sided as some of the teams were far too strong for the rest. Some teams fielded teams that virtually carried the national sevens players and thus proved too hot to handle for the other teams.

De Livera in answer to the question as to the teams should be balanced in strength said “My committee will decide and take a decision to limit three first class players only at a given match. The committee after deliberation will make it a reality. There should be an object to aim to it. Otherwise the competition gets meaningless. It should be not to win at all cost. The Mercantile 7s is for all to enjoy. I don’t think anyone will object to this amendment. It will be enforced in the year 2006 tournament. (BW)

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