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| Wednesday, 28 July 2004 |
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Four teams qualify for 'B' Division knock-out tournament by S. M. Jiffrey Abdeen - Kandy Sports Correspondent The Provincial Rugby Tournament conducted by the Central Province Rugby Football Union is in full swing with the group leaders of the four groups being found and they have now qualified to participate in the SLRFU's 'B' Division knock out tournament to be held in Colombo shortly. The Secretary of the Central Province RFU Viper Gunaratne said that a total of 12 teams participated in this tournament which has been the largest to date in the Provincial tournament. They are Kurunegala Rugby Football Club, University of Peradeniya, Matale Rugby and Football Club, Katugastota Rugby and Football Club, Old Antonians Rugby Football Club, Dimbulla Athletic and Cricket Club, Dickoya Maskeliya Cricket Club, Nuwara Eliya Rugby and Football Club, Polgolla Rugby and Football Club, Dambulla Rugby and Football Club, Wattarantenna Rugby and Football Club, Aruppola Rugby and Football Club. The teams which have qualified to play in the 'B' Division knock-out tournament are: Kurunegala RFC, University of Peradeniya, Matale RFC, and Katugastota RFC. It must be mentioned that these clubs are not the second strings of the 'A' Divisions but most of them are new clubs which had taken to rugby recently through the development programmes initiated by the Central Province Rugby Football Union. The established clubs are Kurunegala RFC, University of Peradeniya, Dimbulla A & CC, Dickoya Maskeliya CC who have at one time or other played 'A' Division rugby but now relegated to play in the provincial tournament due to various reasons. It must be also mentioned that Dickoya Maskeliya have entered the Cup finals in the mid sixties and Dimbulla A & CC became league champions in the mid seventies but with the exodus of planters, rugby in these two planters clubs is fighting for its very survival. CPRFU sources said that the balance eight teams who could not qualify for the 'B' Division knock out tournament will participate in a Consolation Tournament for the 'Maurice Perera Trophy' presented by Maurice Travels. This tournament has been named 'Maurice Perera trophy' in recognition of the services rendered to rugby by Maurice Perera who was a former national rugby player and during his tenure of office as the President of the Central Province Rugby Football Union, the game was taken outside Kandy and to places like Dambulla, Polonnaruwa, Wasgamuwa, Hettipola, and even Anuradhapura where this sport has caught up. The Maurice Perera trophy tournament will see each club playing two matches on a round robin basis before going into the quarter finals semi finals and the finals. There will be also a Rugby Carnival at the Nittawela Grounds and the presentation of awards to the champions and the runners up will be made on that day. So it is going to be hectic rugby in the hills in the coming months. |
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