Sports - Temp

On a quiet afternoon after a long lay-off I made a track to Veluwana Road to meet my long standing pal of mine Bryan Baptist. I knew him from his school days at Royal. Bryan is now on the Main Board of Bartleets. He looked fresh and relaxed after enjoying a holiday in the US and in Canada. We discussed the good old days where all enjoyed playing on and off the field in the century old club CH&FC brought back nostalgic memories. Some excerpts from this discussion.

Bryan began “I applied for the Army for the last batch to the Sandhurst Academy in 1967. I did extremely well at the interviews and tests, but was made a ‘standby’. The likes of Janaka Perera, Udeni Gunawardena and Devinda Kalupahana were selected. Instead I was offered training in Pakistan with the same seniority --2nd Lieutenant. I refused, as my dream was to go to Sandhurst. In annoyance I told the Interview Board who called me for a discussion I told the board that I have decided to join the Police. At that time I remember G V P Samarasinghe and Col. Ramanayake were on the Interview Board. They were keen Rugby enthusiasts. I declined the police offer too and began a marketing course.

“I have played against the Bosuns, Paris University, Blackheath, the Joint Services Singapore and my climax was representing Sri Lanka in 1974 Asiad in Colombo. I also captained the SLRFU President’s XV Teams against visiting sides. I coached the CH&FC and also captained the team for 2 years. I coached the Navy for 3 years and was invited to assist my old school Royal College.

Speaking further he said, “I enjoyed playing Rugby in the Mercantile 7s representing John Keells. We had players of the calibre of Lorensz Pereira, Tyronne Fryer, Ken Balendra, John Legett, Jagath Fernando, Horace Perera, L A I de Silva. I played scrum half in the 7s. John Keells won the Trophy on many occasions. I served on the Sri Lanka Rugby Selection Committee. Then I also served on the SLRFU Disciplinary Committee. I managed the Sri Lanka Team to the Asian Games in South Korea and also to the Asiad in Bangkok. “In 1978 coached the Foezerhat Cadet College Bangladesh at rugby in an honorary capacity. I remember an incident where once the CH team walked off the field led by Y C Chang due to a disagreement with the Referee. CH were at the receiving end with the Disciplinary Committee deciding to suspend the entire team. I pointed out that we have being trained to obey the Captain and therefore followed him off the field. Only Y C Chang was penalized.

A MEMORABLE MOMENT

“It was the Captain’s game against the Havelocks. I played in one ‘chucker’ and remember clearly how I tackled a Havelock player who was on the verge of scoring a Try by the corner – flag. I took him off the ground into touch. This secured my place in the CH side which was dominated mostly by expatriates.

ELEMENT OF SURPRISE

“Then I also remember an incident when playing against the Police. I collected a high ball from a kick ahead. 3 police players charged towards me when I collected. Pretending to clear the ball, I suddenly decided to charge into them at speed which they never expected. This took them by surprise.

“Also in Canada recently I read a news article that CR had defeated the Havelock’s by 60 odd points. Following the game here, only from newspaper reports, I realized that the Havelock’s had shown tremendous improvement recently barely losing to Kandy Sports Club. I mentioned to some friends that probably they may have acquired the services of a very good Coach and also the boys seem to be motivated and committed. With Havies next defeating CR, I recalled the game when the Navy played the CH&FC in 1988. In the first game at the Army grounds CH&FC defeated the Navy by some 55 points. In the return game at the CH&FC, Navy turned tables with a sensational win beating CH&FC 9 points to 3. “My crowning experience was when the Navy entered the Clifford Cup final in 1989 playing against CR and also the B Division side playing the Army on the same date at the same venue. Both Teams lost by small margins.’