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| Saturday, 7 August 2004 |
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Bradby Reflections: Gunman Kalu : The scrum half who 'hooked'! by M.V. Muhsin We called him "Gunman". You'll realize why, when he walks into Royal sports complex as the chief guest for today's first leg of the Bradby Shield encounter. U.L. Kaluaaratchi, Royal's captain of 1962, has the John Wayne cowboy walk: hands and elbows bent by the side, a paced stride with a slouched body, eyes surveying his prey and ready for the draw of both guns! It was in 1957 when coach Geoff Weinman asked the under seventeener what position he wanted to play. "Gunman Kalu" surveyed the field and saw Giants in the form of Roti Seevaratnam, Maurice Anghie, E.L Periera and H.S De Silva. His response was "Sir, I want to hook!" Geoff was pleased. He asked Kalu to join in. After a really grueling practice session Kalu confessed that Geoff had misinterpreted him. What Kalu had implied was that the challenge was so daunting that he wanted to really "hook" (run away from the scene). Yet, destiny had other and more grandiose designs for Kalu's Rugby career. His baptism to big rugby came when many Royalists suffered crash tackles inflicted by an aggressive, if not violent, Zahira side. So tough were the Zahira side that it was called the Zahira Zuicide Squad! Stars Sarath Kodagoda, Jayanetti, Maurice Anghie and Thiruchittampalam were injured. Pothuhera, the scrum half, played on carrying a lame arm. Yet, Royal won 12-0 with virtually 13 players. The match should also be remembered for the dashing run by Ken Balendra, Royal hooker who scored a try under the posts unopposed. The story goes that he ran so fast , rather unusual for him, that he ended up with hepatitis, knocking him out of both Bradbys that year! Balendra is reported to have said jokingly that he paved the way for Kalu to get into the side as hooker! Over the next few years until he captained the Royal side in 1962, Kalu had played not only -as the hooker ( the real one!) alternating with Ken Balendra, but as wing forward and then finally as Scrum Half. His versatility was such that in 1960 he played as hooker in the first leg of the Bradby, then a week later as scrum half against St. Peter's, and then a week later as wing forward in the 2nd leg. Kalu had his share of travails, some of them hilarious. It was the 1st leg of the 1960 Bradby, when Royal scored first and were leading 3-nil. Jayantissa Ratwatte, Trinity's stylish fly-half, broke through and scored under the post. The score was 5-3. From a line out someone kicked ahead into Trinity territory towards full back Kumar Abeywardene. Kalu was going for Kumar when he found that his rugby shorts were falling down to an embarrassing level; only to discover that Nihal Halangoda had pulled it down as part of a possible tackle, or show down! He was a great playmaker. It was the 1st leg in Colombo in 1962 under Kalu's captaincy. The Trinity team was led by that classy gentleman forward and Sri Lanka Cap Noel Brohier. Off a quick heel, 25 yards right of the posts in Trinity territory, the ball was gathered by Kalu and passed in a flash to fly half Angus Croning. Angus intuitively attempts to pass to first inside Ana Wimaladharma. Ana, in a demonstration of real sportsmanship, shouts "Gap, Gap...Go, Go you bugger!" and Angus hits the gap and scores giving Royal the victory by 5-0. The return game however was a different story. It captured the spirit of the Trinity Motto "Respice Finem" (Look to the End). The storied Asoka Kehelpannala, is said to have been so confident of a Trinity win that he told ground boy Vittie "Principalta Kiyanda Lion lasthi karanda Kiyala": "tell the Principal to prepare to award the Lion" - the Trinity insignia for Rugby excellence. There were three quick tries in the first half with Mohan Sahayam and E.T. Abeywardena showing the "means to the end" by their flashy tries to help Trinity clinch the series 9-0 in spite of Royal being in Trinity territory 90% of the game. This was a match that also displayed, in the midst of intense rugby, the camaraderie and sportsmanship that's been the hallmark of the Bradby Series over the past four decades: Trinity flanker Chulika de Silva gets knocked out from a hard tackle. He is virtually concussed and is about to leave the game. In those days substitutes were not allowed. Royal Captain Kalu walks up to Chulika in Gunman, pulls him up and says "get up Chukka, you can play you bugger"! And Chulika did! Kalu came under the tutelage of coaches Geoff Weinman and Mahes Rodrigo. Geoff built sides harnessing obvious talent. Mahes developed players. Geoff coached to win. Mahes coached to build character. Geoff was watching the plays. Mahes the players. Integrating all this was M.T. Thambapillai the Master in Charge. Imbibing this heady cocktail was Kalu, who in later years helped to coach Royal. In 1971 when Kalu was Royal's assistant coach, Mahes spots C.P.P Abeygunawardena and says to Kalu: I say who is that fellow playing wing forward? See that he plays scrum half!. And Kalu ensured this. C.P.P, who blossomed into a brilliant scrum-half, went on to captain CR & FC and Sri Lanka and now to coach Royal. |
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