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11th, August 1996

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Air Force, Red Diamonds win their matches

Air Force pulled off an upset 3 goals to 1 win over Renown in their Bristol League Division 1 football match, while Red Diamonds Kandy beat Colpetty United by 5 goals to 1 in another match in the same division.

In the other matches played in the Division I tournament, Hyline SC beat Madyamalanka 2 - nil, Air Force drew 1-all with Maligawatta Youth, Pettah United drew 1-all with Colpetty United, Renown beat Police 2-nil, York SC beat Super Beach 2-nil, Red Diamond beat Sunny Mount 2-1, Youngsters SC beat Pelicans SC 1-nil, Cooray SC beat Jupiters SC 1-nil, Saunders beat Army 1-nil, Old Bens drew 1-all with Wanathamulla Youth, Ratnams beat Youngsters 3-nil, Old Bens beat Pettah United 4-nil. York SC drew 2-all with Navy, Hyline SC beat Army 1-nil, Police beat Cooray SC 1-nil, Jupiters drew 1-all with Saunders.

In the Division II tournament, Maya SC beat Sri Padians SC 5-3 and Sunrise SC beat Antonian SC 1-nil, Vaeni SC beat Ratmalana United 3-nil, Victory SC beat Greenfield SC 4-2, New Youngs SC beat Sunrise SC Kandy 1-nil, Young Marians SC drew nil-all with Negombo Youth, Maya SC beat Java Lane 1-nil.

Meanwhile, Olympians SC beat Naseby Lakeside SC Nuwara-Eliya by 6 goals to nil and Soccer Fans SC beat Young Stars SC Anuradhapura by 6-nil in their Division 3 tournament matches.

In the other matches in the Division III, Munaweera SC beat Sunrise SC 1-nil, Manchester SC drew 2-all with Naseby Lakeside SC, New Stars SC beat Young Menu’s 2-1, Red Sun SC beat Malwatta SC 3-nil, Gampola United beat Green Park SC 1-nil, Wimbledon beat Chilaw United 2-nil, Jet Liners SC beat Young Star SC Anuradhapura 3-1, Sunrise SC beat Flying Arrows SC 2-1, Hatton Youth beat Eastern Youth 4-1.


Aussies will play: no extra pay

By Annesley Ferreira

Australia who had asked for more money to participate in the Singer World Cricket limited-overs tournament conducted by the Board of Control for Cricket in Sri Lanka, has confirmed their participation, a senior Cricket Board official told The Sunday Times.

We told them blankly that their request could not be granted as the sponsors who had agreed to pay US$ 135,000 to all participating teams, will have to consider paying more

Australia’s demand cannot be met, because Sri Lanka, the World Champions, could have demanded for more money too, the Board official said and that request could not be ignored.

Meanwhile, the Australian Board of Control for Cricket has forced Stuart Law to miss the Natwest Trophy semi-final playing for Essex against Surrey next Tuesday, as he would have to be in Sri Lanka to participate in the Singer World Series.

It is learnt that Essex have made a request to allow the 27-year-old Law to delay his departure by 24 hours because of this match, but the Australian Board of Control has turned it down.

Meanwhile, Law may play in this match on Tuesday, since he is expected to leave in the evening, but if it rains he may not play, confirmed Essex Secretary and General Manager Peter Edwards.

It is also learnt that the plea by Yorkshire to let Michael Bevan play in their semi-final against Lancashire in the other semi-final has also been rejected by the Australian Cricket Board.

The Australians led by Mark Taylor are expected to arrive in Sri Lanka on or before August 16, since they are to play two practice games against a strong Cricket Board president’s XI on August 22 and 23 at the P. Sara Stadium, a senior Cricket Board official said.

The Australians have named their squad.

Mark Taylor (Captain), Ian Healy, Damian Flemming, Steve Waugh, Mark Waugh, Shane Warne, Stuart Law, Michael Bevan, Paul Reiffal, Jason Gillespie, Glen McGrath, Ricky Ponting, Michael Slater.

Zimbabwe - Alastair Campbell (Captain), Eddo Brandes, Mark Dekker, Craig Evans, Andy Flower, Grant Flower, Wayne James, Charles Lock, Lumelelo Mbangwa, Henry Olomga, Bryan Strang, Paul Strang, Heath Streak, Guy Whittal, Craig Wishart.

Sri Lanka - team awaiting Ministry approval.

India - to be decided on.


CRushing defeat for Police

CR&FC scored A resounding win over a pathetic Police side by 44 points (2 goals and 6 tries) to nil on August 3, at Police Park in their Carlsberg A Division second round Rugby League game. This is one of the worst defeats in the history of Police Rugby. I have been associated with Police Rugby for more than three decades as a player, coach and administrator, and I captained the Police in their first ever win against the CR&FC in 1967 which was the semi-finals of the Clifford Cup at Havelock Park.

For CR&FC the players who lit up the Police Park with their dazzling display of Rugby were flanker Alfred Hensman with a record three tries, with more tries a piece by skipper, Viraj Prasantha, full back Nalaka Weerakkody. Drop forward Shantha Rohana, Centre Joel Pera and Winger Sumith Premantha.

Police on this day gave a sad display of Rugby and to add to their woes their key players Nizam Jamaldeen, Norman Silva and Niranjan Abeyawardene had to leave the field with injuries. If Police is to make an impression in their two knockout tournaments for the Clifford Cup and the President’s Trophy, their coach Daya Jayasundara should do a lot of homework with a tight game plan.

Kandy Win again

Kandy S.C. continued its run of victories in their second round Carlsberg Rugby League encounters when they crushed Old Trinitians Sports Club by 47 points (3 goals, 4 tries and 2 penalties) to 3 points (1 penalty) at Nittawela on August 3.

Old Trinitians who made history by beating Havelocks S.C. the previous week were expected to put up a better performance against their home rivals Kandy S.C., but the strength of the Kandy SC was too much for the up and coming Old Trinitians who wilted under the might of Marikar’s Marauders.

Kiti Ratudradra, the Fijian mainstay of Kandy S.C. had a great game with three tries with more tries from Pradeep Basanayake. Sudath Sampath, Nalin Dissanayake and Asoka Jayasena. Full back Upul Wijesiri goaled three of the tries and put over two penalties to swell the Kandy score.

Consolation came OTCs way when N. Welagedera kicked correctly, the only penalty that came their way. This huge defeat had made OTSC into a mediocre outfit online their earlier performances in the second round league games.

CH beat Havies

CH&FC who are playing good rugby in their second round games avenged their first round defeat by the Havelocks S.C. by defeating the Park Boys by 22 points (1 goal and 3 tries) to 15 points (1 goal, 1 try and 1 penalty) on August 2 at Havelock Park.

CH &FC dominated the first half by leading 10-nil with two brilliant tries by Ajith Upawansa and Taniela Taniela. CH &FC scored further with a try by fly half Kaisara Toupe which was converted by their captain Chanaka Jayaweera. Havies squeezed their way with a penalty by full back Dexter Fonseka to make the scores 17-3 at the breather.

During the second half CH stretched their lead with a try by Jude Dimitri who did a 40 metre solo which was not converted and for the scores to read 22-3. Havelocks who were now playing power Rugby had the CH back-pedalling and scored an unconverted try by Sanjeewa Abeygu-nawardana to narrow the CH lead 22-8. Havies again increased their score with a try by lock forward Thushara Jayalath which Dexter Fonseka converted for the match to end 22-15 in favour of the CH&FC, who now climbs to third position in the league table.


Eight Lankans in Asian

The Johnnie Walker International Club Golf Championship will be held for the first time in Sri Lanka on August 25 at the Royal Colombo Golf Club commencing at 6.45 am.

The championships will be conducted in three groups: A,B & C with over 175 golfers taking part.

The handicaps for the groups will be A - 0 to 9, B - 10 to 16, C - 17 to 24.

Other awards will be made to the player Nearest to the Pin, Longest Drive and the Hole in One.

The winner of all three groups will receive air tickets for participating at the Johnnie Walker International Club Golf Championships in Taipei, Taiwan contesting for the Asia Pacific Championships.

This is the first time that Sri Lanka has been brought in as a member country for participation.

Eighteen countries will take part in the final round: China, Chinese Taipei, India, Indonesia, Guam, Hong Kong, Korea, Macau, Vietnam, Japan, Spain, Malayisa, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Nepal, Thailand, and Sri Lanka.

Sri Lankans will have an opportunity to play alongside, Nick Price, Ernie Els, Ian Woosnam and Colin Montgomerie.

This championships which began in 1991 has been hosted by Thailand, Philippines, China, Indonesia and Korea.

Last year the championship was won by a team from Myanmar in Cheju Island, Korea.


HNB crowned as netball queens

Hatton National Bank won the inaugural Inter-Club open netball title with a hard fought 37 goals to 31 win over Las Vegas in the championships conducted by the Netball Federation concluded at Police Park.

The Las Vegas team led the champions by 9 goals to 7 in the first quarter while the bank women led 11-8, 10-7, 9-7 in the second, third and fourth quarters.

The lasses from Pannala won a double winning the Juniors under-14 crown defeating Holy Family Convent, Kurunegala by 13 goals to 9 and won the B division title too downing Textwood Garments by 24 goals to 13.

The C. division title was won by Kalutara Balika A who beat Galle Youth by 23 goals to 13 and Gunasena Playgrounds won the D division final over Sacred Heart Convent, Galle by 23 goals to 10.

Nomads beat Speed Birds by 10 goals to 9 to win the veterans crown played for the Donovan Andree Memorial Trophy.

Sandya Jayasuriya was picked as the Best Defence player while D. T. D. Munasinghe of Kalutara Balika was awarded the Best Centre Court player with Gayani Ratnayake winning the Most Promising player award.

Somitha Kumari of Hatton National Bank was chosen the Netball Queen while Nalin Boteju bagged the Best Male players award. Gunasena Playgrounds was picked as the Smartest team with Wasana Dilrukshi of Gampaha winning the Best Shooters title and Anoma Sriyakanthi of the National Youth Services Council and Chandima de Silva of Galle finishing as First and Second runners-up respectively.


Johnnie Walker Golf in Lanka

Eight Sri Lankans have qualified to participate in the Asian Golf finals played for the Mercedes Benz Trophy 96 at the Sanctuary Cove Resort, Queensland, Australia from August 14 to 16.

The winners of the Asian finals will book their berth for competition at World finals, from September 22 to 27 in Stuttgart, Germany.

The winners of the Mercedes Benz Trophy held at Sri Lanka Country finals at Nuwara Eliya will be the Lankan representatives at the regional finals in Australia

Group A Handicap - M.J. Chutti Mansoor, Pheroze Billimoria.

Group B Handicap - T. Ilva, B.K. Fonseka.

Group C Handicap - S. S. Kim, H.C. Noh

Group D Handicap - I. Farook, M. Muthuvaloe.

The organisation with the Asian golfer in mind, have picked on Arnold Palmer to design the course the 1997 Mercedes Benz Asian finals.

South Africa is the newest member to be admitted to the Mercedes Benz Championships.


Red Shirts flatten Kandy by 28-5

Division A title after 22 years

By Marlon Fernandopulle

CR&FC enjoyed their finest moment when they scored a spectacular 28 points (4 goals) to 5 (1 try) victory over Kandy SC to win the Carlsberg A Division championship, after 22 years, at Longden Place yesterday.

The Red Shirts humbled the defending champions for the second time in six weeks, when they scored their 14th successive victory witnessed by a capacity crown last evening.

Both teams went into the crucial game without key players (who were on injury list): CR&FC were without Latisha Gunaratne, while Kandy missed the service of Priyantha Ekanayake.

The game was played at a cracking pace with CR&FC holding the advantage for a major part of the first half. Although the Red Shirts gained plenty of possession in the loose, they were unable to penetrate the well knit Kandy defence.

CR&FC opened scoring in the 34th minute when scrum half Champika Nishantha smothered a kick by a Kandy defender in Kandy territory, after which flanker Alfred Hensman collected the ball and sent his three-quarters in motion. Full back Nalaka Weerakkody formed the overlap, and put the finishing touches to the try.

Weerakkody who missed two penalties earlier added the extra points for CR&FC to go into lemons leading 7.0.

It was early in the second half that CR&FC sealed the fate of their opponents with two spectacular tries within just five minutes.

In the 47th minute, forward Tarita Talugestu pounced on a loose ball after a second phase move and rushed past a host of Kandy defenders to score CRÕs second try. Weerakkody added the extra points and CR led 14-0.

Trailing by 14 points to nil Kandy were try to get their act together, when CR&FC unleashed another attack. This time it was the Burly centre Nixon Junior who put the finishing touches to a three-quarter move, and scored under the posts. Weerakkody added the extra points for CR to take a 21-nil lead.

The visitors dominated in the line-outs with Asoka Jayasena outstanding. With a heavier set of forwards, Kandy were able to take a play to CR territory.

However they were well held by the CR defence who stood firm and made a couple of crunching tackles.

Alfred Hensman and winger Sujith Premanatha, stood out in defence. Kandy were however rewarded in the 62nd minute, when Fijian Kiti Ratrudradra touched down by the corner flag. The try was not converted.

CR&FC came back strongly in the last stages of the game to crack the Kandy defence with their fast running three-quarters for centre Naufer Rahim to touch down. Weerakkody made no mistake with the conversion. And CR&FC scored a glorious 28/5 victory to finish of the league in great style.

Fittingly for CR&FC it was their reliable place kicker Nalaka Weerakkody who led the team into Longden Place yesterday. Weerakkody has been instrumental in CR&FC success this year in the league accounting for over 140 points for his club in his debut in the big league.

Referee Roshan Deen


Organisers rap Lankan expatriates

The Sunday Times learns that the organisers of the Sri Lankan Cricket team’s tour of Los Angeles had told the Cricket Board of Sri Lanka, some Lankan residents of LA had agreed to chip in US $1000 which had not come.

In consequence, the organisers of the tour have not been able to pay the Sri Lankan Board of Control of Cricket the US $30,000 promised to them.

Meanwhile, questions are being asked by cricket enthusiasts as to what was revealed by the Cricket Board’s probe into the Rs. 1.2 million grant made to the Galle CC.


More shady deals under the pool

By Annesley Ferreira

Undercurrents and allegedly shady deals have created a whirlpool as Sri Lanka’s swimmers and divers prepare for the Asia-Pacific championship in Seoul from August 17 to 24.

One official of the National Amateur Athletic Sports Union had first told parents of competitors they would have to provide $500 each for the trip. The figure was later raised to $600 and to make matters worse, parents were told to buy dollars in the black-market, it is alleged.

Parents said they had also been asked to provide Rs. 38,000 for the ticket of each competitor but inquiries from the airline revealed that the cost of the ticket was only Rs. 35,000. Parents are wondering what is happening amidst allegations of corruption.

The Sunday Times learns that one official is to be left out of the team for Korea while parents and sports lovers say stern action needs to be taken to clean up NAASU.

At least two swimmers, including medal prospect Jinanjalli Wimalasena who is training in the United States, have withdrawn from the team due to lack of funds. Diver Romesh Pakston has pulled out due to injury.


Junior Lions beaten

Sri Lanka, one of the favourites in the Mini World Cup limited over cricket tournament played for the Lombard Challenge Trophy were beaten by South Africa by 30 runs at Oundle, England yesterday.

South Africa who batted first scored 243 for 8 in their allotted 55 overs, with R. Sierra top scoring with a breezy 58, Spinner Arshad Junaid was the pick of the Lankan bowlers claiming 4 for 32. In reply Sri Lanka were all out for 210 runs with Nalin Pathirage top-scoring with 37. Sri LankaÕs wicket-keeper. N. Sivanesarajan excelled behind stumping the first four South African batsmen.

Scores.: South Africa: 243 for 8 in 55 overs. (D. Makalima 29, J. Trott 24, R. Sierra 58, M. Otto 21, U. Abrahams 25, M. Maketa 29 not out, Gihan Fernando 2/59, Arsad Junaid 4/32.)

Sri Lanka: 210 all out in 52.4 overs. (Nalin Pathirage 37, Ian Daniel 23, N. Nizam 32, N. Sivanesarajan 31, D. Botha 2/29, J. Trott 3/30).

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