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It
was a right Royal Silver Jubilee It was a happy
re-union organised by the Royal '78 Group to celebrate their 25th
anniversary with a get-together joined by their traditional counterparts
Trinity and S. Thomas' at Longden Place. Rugby was played
in a lighter vein. Some of them who played during '78 to '80 were
there to scrum down with their families for the epoch making event. A 15-a-side
and 10-a-side rugby are on the cards. It was played in a carnival
atmosphere. Burly 'Horsey' Hassan leading the pack up front, shoved
it beautifully with his power and strength to make it an instant
success. Trinity had the likes of Ravi Balasuriya (1977 Captain),
Tikiri Ellepola, Janaka Kiridena, Ravi Ponnambalam, Tariq Omar,
Michael Richardson, Roshan Ratwatte and Rohan Abeykoon. Royal were
led by Rohantha Peiris and had Shariz Vipula Dharmadasa, W. Epparachchi,
Raba Gunasekera, Iqbal Hassan, S. Kumar, Ravi Vijenathan, Sujeewa
Cooray. The Thomians
had a junior rugby promoter, Shanaka de Livera, C. Johordashe Hafeel
(who really ran on the wing), C. John and Iddipilli to name a few. Trinity beat
Royal 5-0 in the established game, Royal beat Trinity 10-5 in the
ten-a-side; while the Thomians beat Royal 15-5. Despite years rolling
by, they still displayed plenty of rugby skills. Rugby legend
Summa Navaratnam who coached the Royal '78, '79 and '80 teams were
honoured. He was chaired by the players who learnt the skills from
him. He was given a special award, one to remember to mark the anniversary.
Rugby promoter Malik Samarawickrema too who had a hand in the coaching
along with Summa, was honoured. He continues to help. Royal's rugby
to reach greater heights Dr. Fred Perera - a diehard supporter of
Royal Sri Lanka rugby too received a special award. All the participants
were given a memento to mark the occasion. It was followed by dinner. Hassan told The Sunday Times that the organisers hope to make this an annual event before the Bradby second-leg, with the support coming from old Trinitians and old Thomians. Behave
- otherwise Kandy rugby will suffer Whenever CR
scrums down at Nittawela there is never a dull moment, with both
teams going hammer and tongs providing high octane rugby. At times
the crowds apparently try to take control of the game, thereby tarnishing
the Hill Capital Club's image. A couple of
years ago the Longden Place Club suffered worst with some of the
visiting spectators' vehicles were damaged. Things improved
with the organisers taking strict security measures. But again a
section of the crowd thought fit to raise their ugly heads in the
last match also against CR. Today the White
Shirted Club is the top rugby playing team in the country. But other
clubs, too have the right to play without let or hindrance to make
it more competitive when they scrum down at Nittawela. One hopes sanity
will prevail among some of the irate fans. The Rugby Union, too
must take serious note of it and help the home team to plan strategy,
especially when a key contest is on the cards at Nittawela. A section of
the unruly elements has failed to realise that they are not helping
Kandy rugby, with this unwarranted acts, but has tarnished its image.
By firing missiles at the ground the players on either side will
be at the receiving end. One can't forget
these faults when they are quite aware of them. The host team must
take serious note of it. Otherwise club team will refrain from playing
at this venue. The fans must
be educated. They must be told that the game is more important than
trophies. But not to win at all costs. They must discipline themselves otherwise Kandy rugby is going to suffer due to a section of disgruntled fans. -BW Juniors
behaviour most foul Summa, one
of the finest products of Royal, was a versatile sportsman. At present
he's the Rugby Co-ordinator at the Reid Avenue School. Whilst the
seniors were at the middle, the juniors thought fit to indulge in
a free-for-all apparently behaving like the youth in the under-world,
and not representing two traditional schools. But today traditions
are a thing of the past, if one went by the happenings among the
youth in the elite society. Summa agreed. But rugby is a beautiful
sport that can't be brought to that level he said. The behaviour
of some of the players can't be condoned from whatever corner. A bad beginning
makes a bad ending for these future young prospects. This has to
be nipped, otherwise the game is going to suffer. The masters-in-charge
of these junior teams must be answerable for this sad episode. Incidentally,
Navaratnam was enjoying the Royal's '78 Group's 25th anniversary
rugby fiesta and get-together along with former Thomian rugby coach,
Quentin Israel. Quintin too endorsed the same views. Quentin, said:
"I am Trinitian, but I have been a Thomian rugby coach. It
would never have happened during my time. We would not have tolerated
this sort of ugly behaviour". Don't you think
times have changed. Traditions are thing of the past, but to win
at all cost. He said "I'ts not the coach, but the master-in-charge. They must educate their charges." -BW Sepaktakraw
teams bag bronze in Thailand Sepaktakraw
is a popular game in Thailand, which is similar to volleyball but
played without the use of hands. Only the body, feet and head are
used. The game requires great skill, technique, flexibility, dynamism
and aggressiveness. The defensive and attacking shots are similar
to kicks executed in martial arts. Nizam Hajireen
the former Sri Lanka football and rugby player who also captained
the Sri Lanka Police rugby team is the live wire of the sport here.
He conducts classes for the game free of charge at the CR&FC
basketball courts every Saturday and Sunday commencing at 7 A.M.
Those who are interested to see what the game is about and to join
classes are welcome, he says. The average age of the teams, which participated this year in Kings Cup Tournament in Thailand, was 15. This year's Sri Lanka team comprised of the following: L.P. Samindra (Captain), Sashi Nadeeshani, Bhagya Anupama and Aysha Gunasekera (all from Kanishta Vidyalaya Maharagama), Sulochana Perera (Kotahena Central) and Felicia Fernando (umpire-cum-player) and Princely Fernando (St. Anthony's Modera). The men's team was led by T.N. Hajireen and comprised of I. Samarasinghe,Ajantha Kumara and I. Reza. Hajireen expressed his gratitude to those who made the trip to Thailand a reality this year. |
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