Old Antonians take CPRFU Sevens Title

S M Jiffry Abdeen - Kandy Sports correspondent

Old Antonians Rugby Football Club won the Central Province RFU Cup Championship at the second annual inter-club seven-a-side rugby tournament organised by the Central Province Rugby Football Union (CPRFU) when they beat Matale Rugby Football Club by 41 points (3 goals, 4 tries) to 15 (3 tries) in the finals played at Edward Matale on Sunday. At half the Antonians led 31-5.

Old Antonians a very youthful side and with more rugby exposure at school level virtually over-ran the Matale team who it must be said did well to enter the cup finals.

Try scores for the old Antonians were winger Dilum Jayaweera (1) No 8 Sanka Rajaguru (2), centre Dananjaya Sanitha (1), Scrum half Fazbul Rahman (1), look forward Sajid Lahir (1) and full back Chamara Kumara (1).

Scrum half Fazbul Rahman goalled two tries and the other by full back Chamara Kumara. For Matale Rugby Football club winger Sarath Madugalle scored the three tries.

Y M S Ratnayake refereed. In the semi finals old Antonians RFC beat Sarasavi Uyana RFC 35-5 and Matale RFC beat Watapuluwa RFC 17-0.

Deputy Minister of Transport and Matale District MP Rohana Dissanayake was the chief guest and he distributed the awards along with President CPRFU Mohan Samarakoon, President Matale RFU Prasanna Dissanayake.

This was a well organised and the winning teams were awarded trophies and cash awards. The teams which travelled from outside Matale were also paid the travelling expenses. The teams from Matale were also donated with rugger balls by the CPRFU.

The CPRFU organising committee comprised Gamini Udugama, Tuan Dole, Viper Gunaratne Sur, Anura Madawala, Kabu Perera and Sarath Madugalle under the direction of Mohan Samarakoon (President)

Plate Championship

University of Peradeniya won the Plate Championship by defeating Katugastota Rugby Football Club by 27 points (1 goal, 4 tries) to 7 in the finals. At half time undergrads led 12-7. Winger T E Wickremasinghe was in superb form and scored 3 tries. The other two tries were scored by prop H R Wickremasinghe (1) and fly half V T K Jayasinghe (1). Centre S B Egodawela goalled one try. For katugastota RFC centre S R Silva scored the try and goalled it himself.

Mahes Gunaratne refereed in the semi-finals

Katugastota RFC beat Old Thomians SC Matale 33-0 and University of Peradeniya beat Katugastota Youths 33-0.

Bowl Championship

Sarasavi Uyana RFC defeated Katugastota Youths by the huge margin of 40 points (8 tries) to nil win the Bowl Championship. At half time Sarasavi Uyana RFC led 20-0.

Try scorers for Sarasavi Uyana RFC were prop Tilina Weerasinghe (1), centre C P Subhasinghe (2), Winger Thushan Dulip (1), Winger Salinda Ekanayake (1), Centre L U Perera (1), Flanker Banuka Ranjith (1) and full back Rohan Wickremasinghe.

In the semi finals, Katugastota Youths beat Nugawela RFC 17-12 and Sarasavi RFC beat old Thomians 38-10.