Women’s rugby will make a comeback to Kandy. Once it is started it is going to be the fastest growing sport. Females are keen followers of the game and can be seen in numbers at schools and club matches. The plan is to start with a seven a side tournament. This will be a good attempt to identify the reasons for the tremendous growth in women’s rugby in Kandy and to share the experiences of the game. The women wish to play the game using the same laws of the game as men. If things come good, girl’s schools too are sure to follow the journey on. So, the newly elected Central Province Rugby Football Union should firmly believe that the development of womens rugby is the single greatest opportunity for our sport to grow in the next decade, which is why every rugby loving women is proud to share our exciting new brand identity today. Women’s rugby is a full contact team sport based on running with the ball in hand. The same laws are used in men’s rugby with the same sized pitch and same equipment. Rugby was originally a men’s sport, and women’s rugby has become popular in many countries recently.
Up to now much attention has been made to bring back women’s rugby. Over here in Kandy there is tremendous potential. Must explore all possibilities of having a separate organization for women’s rugby. So, it is good to encourage the girls to play rugby a sport they love.
Here lay proof that the first female to have played rugby over here in Kandy, It was in 1974 the first women’s rugby game was played in Kandy. The first game was between Kandy Ladies team and Old crocks, this game was played on 19th October at the Bogambara Stadium and the Ceylon Tobacco Company leaf department gave a sponsorship for this game, Rs. 2500 to meet the match expenses and also to provide the kits for the Ladies team. The people who were behind this were Col. E.J. Divitotawela Area Commander Central Command, Special Municipal Commissioner M.B. Samarakoon, Merrick R. Gunaratne SP., Central Range, Dr. N.P. Rajendran, and C. Thiyakaran Manager Ceylon Tobacco Leaf Department and P.B.Ekanayake SP Kandy All of them met at the Army Central Command Kandy. And at this meeting it was decided to charge a gate for this match and the proceeds to go to Kandy’s sports stadium Fund and Deaf and Blind school Dodnawela.
This match was organized by wife of Merick R.Gunaratne SP Kandy with the assistance of all the leading sportsmen in Kandy. It was a warm-up match for the Kandy Ladies for their big “un” with their counterparts in Colombo Ace Ladies team, the match was to be organized by Ace Athletic Club, the date was fixed for 21stDecember 1974 and the match to be played at Longden Place.
So, the Kandy Ladies and the Old Crocks game took off to a start, here the Lades team provided exciting fare, which was about the biggest and popular sporting event to be staged on the historic Bogmbara Stadium. In this game the Ladies and the Old Crocks thrilled a capacity crowd to some excellent rugby, which was played in a carnival mood,
The score when Referee Dr. Dago Gunawardne sounded the long blast was 25-22 in favour of the Ladies team.
The Army band was in attendance and the vast crowd present which comprised of people of all walks of life really enjoyed witnessing the game which provided them with the thrills and spills the like of which is seldom seen when two men’s teams scrum down.. Col. E.J.Divitotawela Area Commander and Mrs Divitotawela were the chief guests.
The success of this game was due to the great efforts of Lady Clida Gunaratne the Vice President of the Police Officers Welfare Association P..B. Ekanayake Kandy Superintendent of Police and his men.
The day’s gate collection was over Rs. 25,000.00,which was utilized as aid for the Sports stadium fund.
The Vast gathering present packed not only a greater part of the ground but the surrounding hills. The Old Crocks started with a bang as former Trinity College, Kandy SCand Sri Lanka cap Jayantissa Ratwatte spurted through the women’s defence to score two tries in quick succession. This was followed by a spectacular try by winger Herbert Fernando, M.E. Marikar who took the kicks at goal failed miserably despite the cheering he got from his fans.
From this point on wards referee Dr. Dago Gunawardena’s whistle appeared to be hard on the men and virtually began to play a relaxed game . The Ladies took the ascendency and scored two superb tries through Maya Warakulle two and skipper Rupa Sugathapala, Malika Perera, Sumeda Samarasinghe and Anoma Mahulpotha one each,Chintha Baddewela that versatile sportswoman goaled two tries and also put over a penalty kick at goal.
In the last stages of the game spurred by the inspiring leadership of Dr.Nihal Karunaratne the men fought back and obtained tries through Dr. Michael Roberts. R.P. Jayasuriya and Roger Abeyratne goaled one of these tries.
The following were the teams –
Kandy Ladies team Zohara Jumar , Rupa Sugathapala ,Maya Warakaulle, Sumeda Warakaulla, Chinta Beddewela, Malani Sirisena, Maliak Perera, Jacintha Karukuklaratchie, Chandrani Alexander Annete Kurukularatne,Judy Wijeratne, Manorani Alexander, Sumeda Samarasinghe, Margaret Samarasinghe,Dalrene Ludowyke, Anoma Mahaulpotha,Swarna de Silva.
Old Crocks Dr. Nihal Karunaratne , Dr. Bandu Edirisuriya, Dr.Stanley Wijrratne, Jim Bandaranayake, Bobby Jayaweera, C.P.Jayasuriya, M.E. Marikar, Lal Kumarasinghe, Dr. Michael Roberts, Jayantissa Ratwatte, Roger Abey ratne, Dennis Labrooy, T. Burah, Herbert Fernando, Maurice Perera, Arasu Sinniah, H. W.Jayaweera.
Dr. Dago Gunawardne refereed and was assisted by Iswan Omar and Gavin Stevens on the touch line.
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