Kandy’s first cricket big match is the 20th encounter between Wariyapola Sri Sumangala (St. Paul’s) College and Sri Rahula College called the “Battle of the Gold’s” that will take place at the Pallekelle International Stadium today and tomorrow. They are also the two of the oldest schools in Kandy. Cricket is one of the major sports at the two schools. Sri Sumangala has a long history which is 139 years old originating under the name St. Paul’s College as a junior school of Trinity College. After laying the first brick on 8 February 1879 after 100 years in the 1980s, the name was changed to Wariyapola Sri Sumangala College. They first played cricket in 1894. The school gave up the sport and after an 87-year-long layoff; they re-started cricket in 1981.
This was largely due to the efforts of former Sri Lanka cricketer and Kandy Municipal Council Commissioner the late D.H. de Silva. He coached them to play cricket. Special mention must be made of D.D.T. Alwis, a long time coach. Sri Rahula College Katugastota is also one of the oldest cricket playing schools having started the game of cricket in 1890’s but gave it up a few years later and were more involved with football, athletics and hockey. However, in the 1970’s they came back with cricket. A big hand should go to Aubrey Kuruppu, who did his best as coach. Aubrey is a former S. Thomas’ College, Combined Schools, University of Peradeniya, Saracens SC, Central Province and Sri Lanka President’s XI cricketer and cricket commentator.
He trained many cricketers to come up in the game, unfortunately though, when they come up to under 17 level they are being snatched up by other schools. It is going to be two good days of cricket if the weather stays good with batsmen expected to dominate the game. The luck of the coin will go a long way in deciding the outcome of the match.
Fazil says goodbye on his own terms
A match winner and a draw card wherever he plays ruggerite Fazil Marija ended his career with the Clifford Cup finals on Sunday. Now 36, Fazil bid farewell at Longden Place. There's little doubt Marija's rugby career will always be etched in the minds of all rugby players and not be forgotten.
He loved the game, was a good team man and was someone who was very passionate about the game. He prepared very well and gave his all to his club and country. He thanked his family for their support and patience with his long rugby career, and the man who made him international class level ‘Mr. Rugby’ Malik Samawickrema. The way Marija played the game is a model for all young players coming up and to Sri Lanka rugby.
125th Trinity-Royal cricket encounter ends in a draw
The historical 125th cricket match played between Trinity and Royal at Asgiriya last week with former captains MTM Zaruk and Dr. Ranjith de Silva as chief guests ended in a draw. Royal made 149 with Kavindu Madarasinghe scoring 60 and Vimukthi Nethumal taking 7 for 57. In the second innings they scored 213 for 6 declared with Gayan Dissanayake scoring 69, Madarasinghe 67 and Nethumal capturing 3 for 88. Trinity scored 173 and 32 for 4.
Kandy Veterans win at cricket
Kandy veteran cricket side beat the visiting Denmark Vikings by 75 runs in a limited over game at the campus grounds Peradeniya. After winning the toss the touring team invited Kandy veterans to bat first and they went on to score 187 for 6 in 25 overs. Rohan Perera scored 36 and W. Prasanna 31 with Flemin Sondergaart capturing 3 wickets for 54. Denmark Vikings in their 25 overs scored 111 for 4 with Davin Enab making 33, Olw Moresen 31 not out and B. Gamini taking 2 wickets for 9 runs.
Trinity’s first game on March 11
Trinity will open their rugby season with their cricket rivals St. Anthony’s College on March 11 at Nittawela. This season they enter the tournament with high hopes. The Trinitians last won the league title in 1987. The Trinity squad is: Avishka Shiek, Akitha Sakalasooriya, Warren Weerakoon, Reshan Bandaranayake, Amith Kulatunga, Vishwa Ranaraja, Chalintha Nandisena, Yomal Bandara, D Nethwara, Dandiu Herath, Naween Rajaratnam, Mechan Yaswantha, Zayad Faisal, Thean Karunanayake, Koojana Kulatunga, Mohamed Ihram, Oshen Gunawardena, Sajith Shiraj, Dhiren Ratwatte, Mindu Jayasundara, Jaindu Ratnayake, Mohamed Shuaib, Geeshapa Kulatunga, Brad Munaweera, Prabath Wimal, Joshua Peter, Praveenda Wijethilaka, Nimesh Ekanayake, Neranjan Vitharana, Usoof Sadique, Lennox Calyanaratne. Coaching Staff - Lote Raikabula, Buddhika Abeyasinghe, Naveendra Daya, Bandula Pushpakumara, V. Raveendran and Sanjeewa. The Antonians are led by Kavinda Amarakoon and his deputy is Mohammed Shabeer. Some of the senior players are Jithen Daulagala, Pramuditha Wickramarachchi and Theeksha Gunasinghe who performed very well last season.
Kingswood to play Royal
Kingswood College will play Royal College in their opening rugby game on March 3 in Colombo and on March 10 Dharmaraja College will play Wesley College at Longden Place. These two Kandy schools are blessed with good players. Wherever Kingswood plays, its players have exhibited the skills needed for rugby. In 1981 Kingswood emerged B Division champions under coach Z.M. Zarook.
That year they won the Tyrell Muttiah Trophy and were promoted to A Division. Dharmaraja College is remembered for creating history in schools rugby when they clinched the Division 1 Group A championship for the first time in 2013.
The other two Kandy schools St. Sylvester’s College and Vidyartha College are in Division B – IB group and will play each other at Nittawela on March 6 - their opening game. Schools like Sri Sumangala (St.Paul's) College, Sri Rahula College are also participating in the lower division.
Steel for Suhaib and Pam for Anouk at golf
Victoria Golf and Country Resort presented their 21st Donald Steel trophy golf tournament at their resort at Rajawella. The tournament featured one day of competitive golf on Stableford format, the tournament was over 18 holes where over 130 men and women golfers were in action. Suhaib Sangani a classy golfer won first place with Sidath Wettimuny of cricket fame finishing second. The Pam Fernando trophy was won by Anouk Chitty.
Anil Jayasinghe makes Kandy proud
Kandy’s old boy of Vidyartha College veteran referee Anil Jayasinghe together with Colombo’s Dilroy Fernando and Shamrath Fernando has been appointed as coaches to train referees by Asia Rugby. This has been possible due to the efforts of Nizam Jamladeen who heads the referees’ association.
Jayantissa Ratwatte chief guest
Jayantissa Ratwatte who led Trinity College in 1960 will grace the 101st Trinity-Antonian big match as chief guest. He was a fine cricketer during his days and was awarded the best fielder’s prize in 1959, best batting prize in 1960 and the cricket lion in 1959 along with W.S. de Chickera, Malsiri C Kulakulasuriya and A. Nimal Maralande. The year he led his team he made a solid 103 in the big match, with eleven fours and a six.
Cricket coach Sampath to leave Antonians
Sampath Perera who first coached Trinity and moulded them into a champion outfit for several years and then went to Future Legends Cricket Academy in Dubai, in the company of Aravinda de Silva and Rameez Raja is to leave St Anthony’s as their coach. In 2016 took over the Antonian side did a good job losing two games and winning nine.
He is tipped to take over the Malaysian cricket team as their interim coach.
He will leave after the big match and if the terms and conditions are favorable he will start work from May. Sampath learnt his cricket at D.S. Senanayake College as a stumper and also led the side.
Kandy YMMA Carrom and TT champs
Kandy YMMA who dominated cue sports at one time has ignored the game today and some of their new young members are doing well at carrom and table tennis. A few days back at the All Island inter YMCA indoor games held at Badulla YMMA they won the carrom championship. Their table tennis B side were champions and the A side were runner-up. The champion carrom team comprised players like A.N.M. Ameer, M.K.M. Althaf, N.M. Zahid and S.S.Prasad and at TT they were represented by M.M.M. Bilal, F.M. Arshad, M.K.M Althaf and S.Akash. The TT A number two side had players like A.N.M. Ameer, A.L.M. Jinnah, R. .M. Amudihun and R.M. Aakeel.
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