(UTV|COLOMBO) – This time the most looked forward Bradby Shield game will be played on two separate dates, and the league tournament will be a separate one.
Trinity College and Royal College were the first elite schools to take up the sport, and the first historic match between these schools was played on the31st of July, 1920.
This was made an yearly encounter, with Trinity College winning for the first 21 years, until the Royalists recorded their first victory in 1941. In 1945, the principal of Royal College, E.L. Bradby, put forward the idea of playing an annual two-match series, to which the principal of Trinity College C. E. Simithraaratchy, readily agreed.
To ensure the success of the series, Principal Bradby offered a shield which was to be held for a period of one year by the winner of the series. The series has been played annually and uninterrupted ever since. Trinity College won the first encounter in 1945, and from there on Trinity has won the shield on 39 occasions while Royal has won it 33 times, with the shield being shared among the two schools on two occasions. On May 30th the 1st leg of the Bradby will be in Colombo and on June 13th second leg at Pallekelle .
The Trinity College league first round rugby fixtures for the year are, March 6th against S. Thomas”College at Pallekelle, and the second game is with St. Anthony’s College on 13th at Nittawela, 20th vs Royal College in Colombo, 27th St. Josephs College in Colombo and April 4th Kingswood College at Nittawela.
Kandy will be in Ratmalana to pull the Airmen
ReigningSri Lanka rugby club league champions Kandy SC will be in Ratmalana to face Air Force SC for a clean sweep in the 2nd round first game. With first round 100 per cent win record will present a good game of run and pass rugby. The Kandy SC who are coming off consecutive victories are sure to continue their good undefeated display and will show a strong showing to be on the top spot.
They have got seven wins in the bag, and a win is a win. This season Kandy SC have shown some impressive signs,they know how to play and how to win, today too will play in a similar way to how they did in their first round game.
The Kandy SC lads have put in a tremendous amount of quality work and have realized there is healthy competition for places dictated by a focus on nailing their key skills to improve the chance to win. Today KandySC look set for a big victory.
The last time the two sides faced each other was at the first round at Nittawela where Kandy SC won by 26-8. Their aim is to win 2nd round games, in this club there’sa huge amount of energy and excitement amongst the whole team about what lies ahead.
They have been working hard as a team and they know to keep growing of the game. A team always been demanding themselves when it comes to continued improvement, and that will never change. By doing so, it allows them to have the right attitude, intent and execution.
For this team when it comes to preparation, it should never be about who they are playing, but how they are preparing individually and as a team, both mentally and physically. By doing this, it means they always respect your opponent and the jersey.”
Central Province Police athletics meet on Sunday
Thanks to Roshan Fernando DIG Central Province, who led Royal College in 1979 and Public Schools meet record holder has come forward to review sports over here in Central Province Police.
He has come out with the Central Province Police athletics meet, which will take place at the Digana grounds, which will help the Cops in a big way. Central Province Police has some top class athletes.
When compared to the field of Sports and Games Athletic activities of the Police Department, it is clear, that Athletics or Physical exercises have come to existence.
In early days Several Athletic Meets were held in the areas of Colombo, Kandy, Daluwella, Radella and Uva. The first Inter Divisional Athletic Meet was held on the First of Match in 1902, at Race Course Ground.
The Police Athletic Meet was pioneered by the 4th Inspector General of Police (IGP) of then Ceylon, Major F. Nolis, was first held in 1902 at the Colombo Race Course.. This important event produced many outstanding athletes who brought honor and fame to the Police and to the country. IN this meet the events will start at 3 pm and come to an end at 5.30pm.
The events are 3.,30 4 x 400 Women’s at 3.40 mens,3.50 pm women’s 100 meters 4.00 pm men’s, 4.15 4 x 100schools invitation event, 4.30 Women’s Tug war, 4.45 pm men’s. And at 5 p, m the awards ceremony. Next will be cricket, football, hockey, Volleyball tournaments.
Five schools in top division rugby
For the first time in the coming inter-school rugby season, five Schools from the Hill Capital of Kandy will play in the top division.
They are Trinity College,Kingswood College, St. Anthony’s College, Vidyartha College and Dharmaraja College,there are 12 schools this time in the Division I segment “A”, rest of the seven schools are from Colombo. The schools like St. Sylvester’s College, Wariyapola Sri Sumangala College and Sri Rahula College are in the lower division. All schools are under Fitness & Conditioning. The Fitter teams win more games.
Very sad news for Kandy Rugby Fans
Rugby crazy Kandy fans were sad to hear from former Fiji Player Salu Salu who is in town, he had met Nimal Lewke and had said that former Fiji Players who played for Kandy S.C under his guidance who were instrumental in Kandy SC winning the triple crown for the first time. During this time KandyS.C had some brilliant international Fiji Players like “the Man Mountain”Manasa Qoro, Brilliant tactician Kitty Ratudra, power packed Batti Penia , Opethi Thuruwa and Apsi Nagata etc.
They always kept to the Coaches game plan, and this was one of the major reasons for Kandy S.C to win the triple crown for three consecutive years. Lewke who use to travel 3 times a week fromVavuniya to coach the brilliant Kandy SC team and said that it was rewarding to coach such brilliant players.
Trinity wins six out of seven games
Trinity College under the guidance of Kavinda Jayasuriya , have played seven inter school cricket matches winning six matches and one no result.
Last week they beat the Nalandians to keep the Mahela-Snaga trophy in Kandy for another year. this trophy came into the scene last year and both the matches went in favour of the Trinitians.
In these seasons, performance the entire team is playing according to the coach’s instructions and all are doing well. They are sure to keep going today is the second day of the Wesley College game.
Clifford Cup knockouts to be played in Kandy?
Rugby is perhaps the biggest spectator sport in Kandy, It was during the leadership of YC Chang, and the Clifford Cup knockouts were played in Kandy. His organizational ability, helped clubs to get sponsors, and that is what has brought the clubs to its present reputable status. He was a firm believer that club rugger is the backbone of a country..It is the main source of constant supply of talent for national teams.
Where is Denzil Kobbekduwa trophy?
Kandy rugby fans ask what has happened to the Lt. Gen Denzil Kobbekaduwa trophy in 1996; Sri Lanka Rugby headed by Gamini Fernando donated a trophy in his memory to the winners of the match played between Central Province RFU and Western Province RFU
.Later this trophy was used for the inter club sevens, but not now. Where is this trophy? He was one of the finest sportsmen to come out of Kandy Born in 1940 began his schooling first at Hill wood Girls College nursery and later at Trinity College, where his sporting career bloomed.
He won his Lion, colours at rugby at Trinity College where he also played hockey,basketball and cricket. He played for the Army, Havelock Sports Club KandySports Club and rose to great heights and played for the country. Kandy SC’spavilion at Nittawella is named as Lt. Gen. Denzil Kobbekaduwa. He was a great Sri Lanka rugby administrator.. People forget the good work done by people of his calibre.
Kingswood under 16– football Champions
In the Kandy District U16 Football Championship Kingswood emerged as champions St. Sylvester’s College runners up. The final ended in 2all draw and on penalty shoot out Kingswoodains scored 5 against Sylverstains 4 to win the championship. In the quarters Kingswood 3 – Dharmaraja 1, semis Kingswood 2 – Berawawerts 00. St, Sylvester’s in the quarters Wariyapola Sri Sumangala 7-0, Semis beat St. Anthony’s College 03 – 00. In the finals it was a 2 all draw against Kingswood College and on Penalty kick at goal Sylvestrains scored 4 and Kingswoodians 5. A big hand should go to their coach the well known figure in coaching S.A. Weerasinghe for a good job done. St. Sylvester’s under 14 footballers emerged as the under 14 Kandy District Champions
Rugby in Kandy needs a good academy
Rugby is one of the fastest growing sports in Kandy. Their achievements as one of the most exciting teams in the schools and club. Rugby remains a top sport in Kandy with most players coming into the game. What Kandy needs today is academies and the children predominantly come from the settlements. There are not enough fixtures and tournaments until children start high school. There is no national primary school rugby programme making it rare for children to get exposure to the game at key developmental ages from 7-14 years old. Rugby coaches with a good knowledge of the game. They must have every Sunday group training session in the 3 majorsettlements where the keenest children all come to play in their age groups(10s, 12s, 14s, 16s,). It is advised that participants are given the best,today there are academies where young children have to pay a big sum, and the academy runners are well off with heavy pocket.
Krishantha no more coach of St. Sylvester’s
Krishantha Gunawardane St. Sylvester’s College cricket coach is out of action mid way this season. He has been handling the side for the last two seasons with limited facilities, his players have not seen a turf wicket at practices, and today a turf is a must for matches. He has been demanding for these facilities but not done, CPCA gave a donation of Rupees ten lakh last year to lay down turf wickets for the school for practice at the grounds, noting has happened.
The school has been lacking in this facility for quite a long time and they have to practice on a matting wicket and play matches on turf wickets. Krishantha Gunawardene is an old boy of St. SylvestersCollege, he led the u-17and u-19 teams, It is going to be a great loss.At club level he played for Kandy Youth SC, Kandy CC,and Country Cricket Club of Australia Melbourne 1999 to 2000. He attended the level one cricket course in coaching organized by Sri Lanka Cricket. At one time he was the coach of Maliyadewa College senior side, at St. Sylvester’s College under 13,15,17 and 19 cricket teams and helped the senior side to Play in the U 19 2018-19 season.
Now the new coaches who have come into help in the rest of the matches are Anura Halangoda and Sanjeewa Bandara, both are all-out to give a good show.
Gateway College quadrangular
This time the Gateway College annual Quadrangular Encounter 2019/2O2O in Football.Basketball & Netball with Trinity College, St. Svlvester’s College, Girls High School and Hillwood College, and Colombo and Kandy gateway College respectively.
This is the first time that they are having it over here in Kandy to commemorate the 20th Anniversary celebrations of Gateway College, Kandy. So, the organizing committee is going all-out to make it a great event, and the participants are sure to give their best. (DN)