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 24th May 1998 |
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 Royal skipper Shanaka Perera makes a determined break in their match against St. Thomas' at the Sugathadasa Stadium. moving in to support him are Gemunu Dissanayake, Ravindra Athukorala and Dinesh Rahim. - Pic by Dunstan Wickremaratna |
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Injury time try gives Royal win over S. Thomas'By Marlon FernandopulleA sensational try during injury time by Kishan Samarasinghe helped Royal defeat traditional rivals S.Thomas' by 20 Points (2 goals and 2 penalties) to 13 (2 tries and 1 penalty) in a thrilling Milo schools rugger encounter at the Sugathadasa Stadium yesterday. The victory helped the Royalists to retain the Michael Gunaratne Trophy and maintain their unbeaten record in the current season. It was an exhilarating game where both schools dished out superb rugby to entertain the large and appreciative crowd. Fortunes fluctuated as the lead changed hands from time to time before Royal winger Samarasinghe sealed the fate of the Thomians with a scintillating try under the post. The Thomians who came in as underdogs gave a gritty display to keep the Royalists at bay and even opened scoring in the 20th minute with a try by winger Azward Thajudeen. Samila Jayasinghe failed to add the extra points as the Thomians led 5-0.The lead was short-lived as Rananjaya Gonaduwa put over two penalties within five minutes and Royal led 6-5. On the stroke of half time S.Thomas' regained the lead when their three quarter line worked their way from a scrum and breached the Royal defence for winger Thajudeen to score by the corner flag. Fly-half Stefan Van Twest missed the conversion as the Thomians went into half time leading 10-6. After the turnaround the Royalists stepped up their attack with their back division swinging into motion with good intelligent running that had their opponents guessing. However robust tackling by the Thomians coupled with some sloppy handling by the Royal centers at crucial points prevented the Reid Avenue boys from scoring. The Royalists finally succeeded in the 42nd minute when flanker Ravindu Athukorale crashed through the Thomian defence lines after full back Gonaduwa collected a high ball cleared by Thomian fly half Stefan Van Twest and initiated an attack from the opponents territory. Gonaduwa added the extra points as Royal led 13 -10. Soon after Van Twest put over another 20 meter penalty and the equaliser which set the stage for a thrilling finish.Royal kept up the pressure in the dying stages as the Thomians began to loose their way towards the end. Royal missed a golden opportunity at this stage when winger Viraj De Silva fluffed a pass from his center with only one defender to beat. With the clock ticking fast and referee Dilroy Fernando playing injury time Royal finally cut through theThomian barrier as Ravindu Athukorale broke away intelligently from a ruck and sent his three quarters in motion for winger Samarasinghe to touch down and score a spectacular try that left the Thomians spellbound. Gonaduwa added the icing on the cake with the conversion as Royal won 20-13. In the Under 17 game Royal beat S.Thomas' 12-0 to win the Thambapillai Trophy.
Rover pinpointsUnauthorised loan!The Cycling Federation Officials ceased holding office after March 31, 1998. But Rover learns that after they have ceased to hold office they have taken big bank loans. Mock trialThe mock athletic trial to select athletes for the Junior World Games in France was highlighted by us and came for praise by many coaches. Rover learns now that a high ranking official of the AAA is going about saying that they will do as they please and nobody can stop them.
St. Peter's triumph at long lastBy Saif IzzadeenAfter going through three consecutive defeats, St. Peter's finally found their winning touch to score a hard fought 15 points (three tries) to 7 (one goal) win over Mahanama in the Milo Western Province Zone Two Inter School rugby match at Bambalapitiya last evening. Though St. Peter's won the match, they had to go through several anxious moments. They were given a tough ride through some robust tackling by Mahanama. St.Peter's were also helped by some crucial mistakes from Mahanama. The match got off to an unimpressive start with both teams playing cohesive rugby in fits and starts. However in the 14th minute St.Peter's went ahead through the individual brilliance of open side winger Gavin Ludowyke, who from the Mahanama 25, kicked an up-and-under and followed. Mahanama full back Imran Anan failed to collect it and the ball went loose. It was collected by Ludowyke himself who scored by the right corner flag but the conversion was missed by Ludowyke which gave St.Peter's a 5-0 lead. Eleven mintues later the Peterites stretched their lead to 10-0. St.Peter's won a five metre scrum which saw no.8 C. Gunasekera scoring a pushover try. The conversion was minutes by Ludowyke. With five minutes to go for the half-time break Mahanama missed a penalty through fly-half S. Samarasinghe who's kick had the distance but the post came in as spoiler. This saw St.Peter's taking the breather with a 10-0 lead. In the second half Mahanama played some breathtaking rugby and they were rewarded in the 15th minute when they scored a try through fly-half and skipper Sampath Samarasinghe. Samarasinghe goaled the try which enabled Mahanama to reduce the lead to 10-7. But with a few minutes to go for the long blast St.Peter's sealed the issue with their third try. St.Peter's won a five metre scrum which saw a pushover try scored by hooker and skipper Rajiv Perera to give St.Peter's this much needed victory. Referee - P.G.Gunawardena SPC won the junior game 7-0
Kingswood shock St. Sylvester'sBy Shane SeneviratneKingswood gave a fine display of rugby to score a 16 points (two tries and two penalties) to 11 (one try and two penalties) win over St.Sylvester's in the Central Zone Three rugby match at Nittawela yesterday. Kingswood led 11-3 at the breather By winning this match Kingswood ended St.Sylvester's hitherto unbeaten run in the season. N. Ranasinghe and S.Withange scored a try each but the conversions were missed by H.Wijeweera, however Wijeweera made up for it by converting two penalties. - Referee: S.Samarasinghe. New Zealanders make merry to score 211 for 4
Wickremasinghe's partner for Test series still in doubtDuminda Wijesuriya in Kandy
New Zealand batsmen made full use of the erratic bowling by Sri Lanka Board President's XI cherrymen to compile 211 for four at stumps yesterday, the second day of the three day cricket international being played at the Asgiriya Stadium, Kandy. SriLanka Board President's XI scored 300 for nine in their first innings. The match is heading for a certain draw unless something dramatic takes place today, the last day of the game, to change the trend. The performances of the two young seamers - Suresh Perera of SSC and Indika Gallage of CC were keenly watched by the selectors, who are on the lookout for a partner for Pramodaya Wickremasinghe for the Test series against the visitors.Sadly none of the opening bowlers performed well. Both Perera and Gallage were put to the sword by Matthew Horne (92) but the Kiwi opener missed a well deserved hundred. His three hour stay in the middle fetched him 13 boundaries, while facing 166 deliveries.In contrast to Horn's innings, out of form Bryan Young hung around in the middle for 211 minutes, facing 164 deliveries, scored jut 32 runs with two hits to the rope. It was Mahela Jayawardena who made the breakthrough first as Indika Gallage took a good catch at mid-on to dismiss Horne for 92. However the same batsman gave a chance off leg spinner Malinga Bandara, when he was on 49,but by then short mid-on fielder Jayawardena spilled the hard hit cherry! Soon afterwards Horne made his way to the pavilion. 18-year-old schoolboy from Kalutara Vidyalaya did well to claim three wickets for 31 in eight overs. Bandara was unsuccessful during his first spell but bowled with a lot of promise in the latter stages. SCOREBOARDBoard President's XI first innings (Overnight 268 for 7 contd.) Lanke de Silva run out 32 Amal Dalugoda b McMillan 2 Indika Gallage b Priest 15 Suresh Perera not out 17 Malinga Bandara not out 0 Extras (b-1,LB-6,NB-1) 8 otal (for 9 wkts.dec in 115 overs. 422 mts) 300 Fall of Wickets: 8-282 (De Silva); 9-286 (Gallage). Bowling: O'Connor 18-5-49-2; Nash 15-7-21-1; Priest 38-6-90-4; Harris 26-8-64-0; McMillan 16-2-59-1;Horne 2-0-10-0. New Zealand first innings Bryan Young c Jayasuriya b Bandara 32 Matthew Horne c Gallage b Jayawardena 92 Craig Spearman c Perera b Bandara 16 Stephen Fleming c Samaraweera b Bandara 11 Craig McMillan not out 16 Adam Parore not out 30 Extras (B-1,LB-1,W-3,NB-9) 14 Total (for 4 wkts. at stumps, 291 mts, 76 overs) 211 Fall of Wickets: 1-124 (Horne),2-143 (Young), 3-154 (Spearman), 4-161 (Fleming). Bowling: Perera 9-1-37-0; Gallage 13-4-26-0;Bandara 19-4-68-3; Hewage 2-0-13-0;Dalugoda 11-3-29-0; Fernando 5-2-6-0;Jayawardena 10-4-18-1; Jayasuriya 7-1-12-0.
CR in smashing win over PoliceBy Bernie WijesekeraCR and FC maintained their unbeaten run when they scored a smashing 60 points ( five goals and five tries) to 3 ( a penalty) win over police in a Carlsberg Inter Cub rugby match for the Clifford Cup at Police Park last evening. At lemons the Red Shirts led 29-0. This win by CR helped them to retain the Sidney de Soyza Memorial Trophy. The game was dominated by CR from the kick off. They simply steamrolled the Police with a fine exhibition of running rugby. Police were helpless amidst CR's attacking rugby. CR and FC's second rowers Duminda de Silva and Thulagese helped CR to win plenty of good ball by towering above the rest. As the game progressed the set pieces were shared in which police players No. 8 Lalith Leelaratne, lock forward Saravan and prop Thillakaratne and Muthumulla played their hearts out. Sri Lanka flanker Alfred Hensman shone for CR when he scored four of the ten tries through his individual brilliance. The other six tries was scored one each by winger M.J.M. Mushtaq, hooker Viraj Prassana, flanker Kapila Silva and second half's replacement Hasitha Samarasekera. Hasitha is incidentally the youngest son of former CR prop and president Dushantha Samarasekera who is playing first class rugby in Canada. The two remaining tries were scored by second rower Tulagaese and Charith Fernando. Full back Nalaka Weerakody too gave a fine exhibition of kicking when he put over five of the ten tries scored by CR. He also joined the line and formed the overlap on many occasions. The solitary scoring for Police was done by Ajantha Rodrigo who put over a penalty. Referee - Anil Jayasinghe * Today the match between Petersons and Army will take place at Havelock Park at 5.pm. The game will be keenly contested. S.W.Chang will blow the game.
Sri Lanka triumphSri Lanka hit a winning note, downing Bangladesh by 2 goals to 1, in their 31st Asian Youth Under-19 Football championships opener, at the renovated Bogambara Stadium in Kandy last evening. Sri Lanka led 1-nil at half-time.
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Zealand left arm seam bowler Shayne O'Conner seems to be telling the Kandyan
dancers who welcomed the touring team at hotel Le Kandyan "I could
do one better than you" though in Kiwi or Maori style. The visitors
were in Kandy for a warm up game before their first cricket test against
SriLanka in Colombo on Wednesday. Pic by Kumara Dayawansa Nanneththi