Today’s schools rugby match between Trinity and St Anthony’s at the Pallekelle Stadium at 4.15 pm is part of a home series and it will be interesting to see who will succumb. These two schools are Kandy’s bitter rugby rivals and the players will throw everything into battle in an effort to win. Last year Trinity was able to beat their rivals by 49 points to 13.
Both schools are undoubtedly smarting after their defeats to Isipathana and Royal in their last outings and will try to make amends this evening.
The stage is set for another enthralling and bruising confrontation. Both schools are seeking to field their strongest possible lineup. Much will depend on how the game is officiated.
This time the two schools are playing in the Division 1 “Cup Competition”.
The Trinitians are likely to do well in the back division play. They have arguably the best back division line in the hills. They tend to be, faster, more elusive players. It’s useful when one knows each other’s capabilities and uses them accordingly.
The Antonian forwards tend to be knowledgeable and stronger, and they have helped the school get back to Division I after three long years. These forwards when in possession of the ball move it towards the opposition goal-line. Their forwards in the last game against Royal made short bustling runs with the ball against stronger forwards. The Antonian forwards should do well in line outs an area where Trinity is weak.
Today’s clash is certain to draw a huge crowd of rugby lovers, in expectation of a grim yet attractive battle for supremacy. Trinity will depend much on skipper Rahul Karunatilake, Thushila Perera, Anuka Boyagoda and Leshan Wijesuriya, Aqtheeb Ramzeen, Nathan Yee, Diluksha Dange, Geshan Pethiyagoda and Sanushka Abeyawickrema. The Antonians will be expecting a lot from skipper Pasindu Dulshan, Shenal Dias, Anjana Ariyawansa, Mohamed Shabeer, Dinesh Rodrigo, Duminda Hettiarachchi, Asanka Maduwantha and fly half and place kicker Dinuk Amerasinghe and Praboda Bandara.
Sports in Kandy at club level needs a fillip
Sports is a significant part in the city of Kandy where Sinhalese, Muslims, Tamils, Burghers, Malays and so many communities have made it their home, including all sports lovers. Today rugby is the most popular sport in the central hills at club level. In the early days Football and Cricket were much more popular together with Hockey. Then the other popular sports were netball, badminton, athletics, basketball, tennis, cue sport, volleyball, table tennis, elle, golf, swimming and baseball. Whatever is said and done schools regularly organize sports at top level and they are doing well at all sports they play. Thanks to the Principals and the past pupils Kandy has produced national captains at cricket, rugby, athletes, iron sports, hockey, football, boxing, swimming, basketball etc.
The sporting fraternity of Kandy wants to appeal to the Sports Minister to look into Kandy sports’ shortcoming at club level. The Chief Minister of Central Province Sarath Ekanayake one time president of the Basketball Federation, a keen follower of all sports gives a big hand, and also Minister Lakshman Kirielle and Rauff Hakeem too have promised to help thanks to “Mr. Rugby” Minister Malik Samarawickrema who is ever ready to give support.
Roshan will captain Kandy SC once again
The country’s number one scrum half and vice-captain Roshan Weeraratne has been invited to lead Kandy SC once again. He is a utility player, with a good knowledge of the game and also good in goal kicking. He learnt his rugby at Kingwood College, and played for his school from under 15 to 20. Roshan joined Kandy Sports Club soon after the schools season and to-date he is with Kandy SC and captained the side in 2013/14 season.
He also was in New Zealand for three months on training mission at the elite Training Academies in New Zealand, Rugby Performance Centre in Auckland and also in 2010 at a Rugby Academy in Cape Town.
He is the vice- captain of the Sri Lanka side. CPCA president Janaka Pathirana has thanked the Daily News for spotlighting and bringing back the game loved by all at club level in Kandy.
Last season no proper division III matches were organized, and only a handful of games were played, this time out of 80 games 40 matches have been played said Pathirana.
Some of the grounds which give a big hand for cricket like Open Prisons grounds Pallekelle, Wickremabahu grounds at Gampola and the grounds at Gallagedera which helps cricket in a big way have been presented with matting. Then on June 17 the under 15 and 17 cricket, captains, vice captains and MIC’s will be briefed about the rules, for which 50 schools in the Central Province will be present. Former umpires Asoka de Silva and T.H. Wijewardene will brief them.
It will commence at 9 am and at 2 pm at the Pallekelle Cricket Stadium. Sri Lanka Cricket has allocated around Rs. 7 million through CPCA to re-develop the Asgiriya Stadium, where the wickets, outfield and the dressing rooms will be done up. According to CPCA work will commence on Monday.
Plate matches: Kingswood wins at last
Kingswood College shed tears of joy after a season filled with disappointment, when they won their first match of the season by beating Mahanama College in the inter school second round “Plate” competition in Kandy. The Kingswoodians who are blessed with some good talented players, failed to do well in the first round, but in this second round game they put their heart and soul into a superb team effort to emerge worthy winners. On Sunday they will play their next game against St. Joseph's at Bogambara.
Rajans do well to win
Dharmaraja College beat Prince of Wales College 22-14, after leading 10-0 at half time. It was in the second half that the Rajans capitalized on the mistakes made by the Moratuwa boys and scored the necessary points. Their next game is with D.S. Senanayake College at Bogambara today.
Bowl matches: A draw
The “Bowl” trophy game, between St. Sylvester’s College and Lalith Athulathmudali ended in a 24-all draw. Both teams however much they tried to take the lead, failed to do so.
Last evening they played Ananda College.
Division III cricket looking grim
Things were looking grim in the Division III cricket tournament for Kandy’s Saracens C.C. after they were beaten in their opening game against Galagedera CC played at Galagedera. In this game over the over rate was reduced to 35 overs a side due to wet weather.
Saracens CC were invited to bat first and scored 162 all out. Galagedera CC in their turn batted for 31.2 overs to score 163 for 8 and managed to win.
Chairman Coaching Anil Jayasinghe
The newly appointed Coaching Chairman of Central Province RFU under the leadership of Iswan Omar is Anil Jayasinghe, who is keen in giving a helping hand to the beginners of rugby and how to present themselves at matches. Jayasinghe, better known as Anil, was a top referee at one time is now involved in coaching. Born at Nittawela, he had his education at Vidyartha College, where he excelled in sports, especially rugby and cricket and he led both teams. He has made a great contribution to uplift the standard of the game in the hills, by his involvement in the field of refereeing, coaching and administration.
He was at one time one vice-president of the Sri Lanka Rugby Referees Society and also the secretary of the Central Province Rugby Football Union.
In the field of coaching, Anil has coached his school Vidyartha College, Dharmaraja College, Trinity College both juniors and seniors, and also Kandy SC. He has also followed coaching courses in Scotland, England, Wales and at present coaches Zahira College Colombo.
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