It is a crucial match for table leaders and defending champions Kandy SC and title chasing Havelock SC as they go into the Dialog ‘A’ division league game having prepared and in peak form and with a better mind-set at Havelock Park under lights tomorrow. Both clubs know it is a big game, but they will need to keep calm heads and the approach right. These two clubs are placed first and second in the table, level on points and the winner will pocket the league title. When the sides met earlier this season at Nittawela, Kandy SC won.
The Park clubs under the guidance of a Kandy product Ronnie Ibrahim are in the best position that the club has ever been in. He has the knack of producing champions and it will be no different this time round. Havelock SC currently are in top form, having lost only once this season. Even the best of teams are known to have off-days.
It is just how you respond that will finally matter. Kandy S.C. coach Sean Wijesinghe says he is going into this game well prepared and with a better mind-set. “We know it is a big game, but we need calm heads and the approach must be right. We have to adapt to the weather and understand that they have been on the back of a thumping and so they are going to want to put things right as well.’ Kandy's hopes will be boosted with the return of their skipper Roshan Weeraratne who had to skip two games and Nigel Ratwatte who has been out since the start suffering a nasty leg injury.
Old Trinitians beat Present
In a fast well contested game of rugger the Old Trinitians led by B. Karunatilake beat the present boys by 24 points to 22 in their annual encounter which was played last Saturday at Pallekelle. The Old boys played better together and had possession regularly. The present boys also played well but failed to overtake the old boys in scoring. Y.N.S. Ratnayake refereed.
Lack of grounds hits schools sports
Sports is compulsory at schools, sad to say most of the cricket and rugby playing schools lack grounds for matches and are finding it difficult to play their matches. In the early days a hand full of schools were involved in sports and they had no problem today every school is into cricket and rugby. The cost of ground maintenance is high and they have to charge a fee. What the Sports Ministry should do is upgrade the Bogambara Stadium for rugby and come up with a cricket ground for school matches. The ground fees charged for both sports are at five star level and some schools can't afford it.
School cricket
St. Sylvester's College was beaten by Gurukula College Kelaniya by ten wickets. This match was to be played in Kandy but due to grounds being unavailable they played in Kurunegala. Akurana Azhar College beat Kurunduwatte Royal College by an innings and Katugastota Antonians drew with Matara Thomians.
Trinity's first rugby game with Wesley
Trinity College are expected to open their 2017 rugby season with the match against Wesley College and end the season with the Bradby Shield game which is the blue riband of Sri Lanka's school rugby. Trinity's fixtures are: 24 (February - Friday) v Welsey @ Longdon Place, 4 (March - Saturday) v Science @ Havelock Park, 13 (March - Monday) v Zahira @ Maradana, 20 (March - Monday) v S.Thomas’ @ Longden Place, 27 (March - Monday) v Prince of Wales at Pallekelle. 2nd Round - (7/8 April) v St. Anthony's/Dharmaraja in Kandy, (21/22 - April) v St. Peter's @ Bambalapitiya, (28/29 - April) v St. Joseph's @ Longden Place, (12/13 - May) v Isipathana @ Pallekelle, (20 May) v Royal 1st leg Bradby @ Pallekelle, (3 June) v Royal 2nd leg Bradby @ Royal Complex. (Order of games to change depending on the table after the first round).
Can a coach be a referee?
Some of the rugby stalwarts in Kandy ask as to how come that a person be coach, referee and also sit in the controlling body as a committee member? It is also said that there had been a protest by a former referee at the last referees meeting in writing regarding this. Some schools are disturbed that coaches are involved in coaching and also refereeing.
Senkadagala hill climb
The newly formed Senkadagala Motor Sports Club will be holding their first event called the Hantana Leopard Rock Speed Hill Climb on Sunday February 5. The event will be 1.2km, the longest and one of the fastest in the hills. The event will be flagged off from near the museum and is expected to provide thrills and spills for cars and motorcycles. It will comprise of novices events, classic car events, the formula 2000 modified as a special event along with a ladies event followed by the normal hill climb. The proceeds will be donated to the cancer ward of the General Hospital Kandy,
Old Seethadevi hockey 6's
The All Island six a side hockey tournament organized by Seethadevi Old Girls’ Sports Club took place last Saturday and Sunday at the Peradeniya University grounds.
The two day tournament was affected by rain, but no way dampened the end. The Men's Super-9 category saw Air Force “A’ winning the title defeating the Army by 3 goals to nil. Kusal Chandrasiri won the best player award and the best goal keeper award went to Chamalka Fernando both from Air Force.
The Air Force women's team pocketed the title on penalty strokes defeating Navy 2 strokes to 1. Air Force players Iresha Weerabahu was best player and Jeewanthika Keerthiratna best goal keeper. In the Under 15’ Girls’ championship it was Seethadevi BV who remained unbeaten throughout the tournament and won the championship beating Swarnamali BV by 3 goals to 0. Dilhani Rajapakse and Keshika Gunaratne of the winning team were awarded the best player and the best goal keeper's award. The U15 Boys championship was won by Dharmaraja College; they beat St. Sylvester's College 3-1 on penalty strokes. Harsha Weerakoon and Randun Dharmaratne were the best players of their category. The Old Vidyarthians won the Men's top 14 categories by beating Old Zahirians. They remained undefeated throughout the tournament. Kasun Jayaratne won the best player's award and Janith Samarakoon the best goal keeper's award
Naish House champs at Hillwood sports meet
Naish House emerged champions at the inter house sports meet of Hillwood Girls College, held on Tuesday at the Asgiriya Stadium under the distinguished patronage of Andrew Fowler Watt principal of Trinity College.
This girl's school is one of the most prestigious in the hill capital for sports. Past principal Nelum de Alwis gives a big hand for sports like swimming, netball, basketball, volleyball, hockey, tennis, chess and athletics. Second place was won by Bellerby House and third were Irelandjones House.
Simithraaratchy champs at Trinity
The annual inter house sports meet of Trinity College was held on Wednesday at their grounds at Asgiriya. In the upper school event Simithraaratchy House was placed first and second place went to Boarding House. Garrett House was placed third. In the middle school event first place was taken by Sahayam House, Gibson House was second and Pilcher House third. Lion winner, who led the athletics team in 1985 M. Nizvi Nizar, was the chief guest.
Kandy Gateway netball runners-up
Gateway College, Kandy emerged the first runners up at the International Schools under 19 Netball championship organized by Ilma International School, Colombo. They also won the Netball Queen and the Spirit of the Game award. In the first round they beat British School, Colombo (21-3), Lyceum International School, Panadura (23-4), in the quarterfinals they beat OKI International School (25-2), the semi-finals beat Gateway College, Rajagiriya (13-8) and in the final lost to Lyceum College, Wattala (10-20).
Kandy's rugby lovers wish Marso
Kandy's rugby lovers wish Hafeel Marso and his newly elected Western Province Rugby Football Union committee best of luck. In this newly elected committee one of Kandy school product Jude Pillai is the treasurer. They are blessed with seven “A” division clubs.
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