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Kandy huff and puff before beating Havies 27-22 at rugby

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A Havelock SC player looks for an opening in the team’s Division 1 Inter-Club league rugby tournament match against Kandy Sports Club which the latter won 27-22 at Nittawela. (Pix courtesy SLR Media)

By A Special Sports Correspondent

Kandy Sports Club huffed and puffed before pulling off an exciting 27-22 win over a fighting Havelock Sports Club team in their Division 1 Inter-Club league rugby tournament match which was worked off on Sunday (January 7) at Nittawela.

Kandy SC were forced into a defence mode in the second session of play when the visiting team from Colombo found the art of playing many phases without losing the ball to shock the Nittawela side. Many thought Havies would pull off a win using this method, but some crucial errors by Havies when they were really on top and attacking saw the momentum they built in the second half being wasted. Kandy played brilliantly in the first half and scored three tries against two by Havies and enjoyed a two point (19-17) lead at half time. The try scorers for Kandy in the first half were Dilan Ekanayake, Danushka Ranjan and Chathuranga Kudalige. Havies got their first half tries through Senal Dheelaka and Randitha Warnapura.

Kandy were forced to make many errors and were seen giving away two yellow cards; both in the first half and one had such a crucial effect on the team set-up because it was one of the props which went out and stayed ten minutes in the sin bin. Havies had one yellow card.

Kandy capitalized on the Havies’ yellow card and got points through the boot of Tharinda Ratwatte. Srinath Sooriyabandara then put Kandy SC into a ten point lead with a solo run; eventually producing the team’s fourth and final try with the game 52 minutes old.

Havies hit back with a try from Dinupa Senewiratne, but the team’s place kickers, who failed miserably, failed in converting opportunity into points. The last promising move by Havies was squandered by a replacement player who opted to kick ahead instead of using the forwards and moving towards the Kandy try line.

The much improved CH & FC side recorded a hard-fought 14-10 win over Air Force Sports Club on Saturday (January 5) at Race Course in a game that retained it’s ability to entertain spectators right till the last whistle of the referee.

CH & FC dominated the first half and did all their try scoring during that period before running into stiff resistance from the Airmen in the second half. The second half gave some scares to the CH & FC side when they lost key players due to three yellow cards, but they managed to wade off the challenge posted by Air Force despite playing with 13 men at one time during the game. CH’s tries came through Prasath Madusanka and Dinesh Lakshan while the kicks at goal were taken by Hirusha Nethmina.

Air Force earned a first half penalty through the boot of Gayantha Iddamalgoda.

CR & FC continued their marauding form in the league Rugby tournament into the fifth week when they recorded a run-away 57-6 win over Navy SC at Welisara; also on Saturday. The winners ran down nine tries in total and snuffed the life out of the Sailors in both halves. CR & FC led 27-6 at half time. The try scorers for the winners were Randy Silva (2), Randul Senanayake (1), Raveen Silva (1), Iranga Ariyapala (1), Samith Warnakulasuriya (1), Rinesh Silva (2) and Shehan Kelaniyangoda (1). The kicks at goal were taken by Manilka Ruberu. CR & FC converted six of their nine tries.

On Friday (January 5) Police SC produced a hard- fought 19-10 win over Army SC at Police Park. The winners collected their points through three tries and two conversions while Army responded with two unconverted tries.



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Woods charged with driving under influence after crash

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iger Woods was fortunate to escape with his life from this 2021 crash near Los Angeles [BBC]

Tiger Woods has been charged with driving under the influence after rolling his car in a crash in Florida, police have confirmed.

The Martin County Sheriff’s Office said the 15-time major champion was also charged with property damage and refusal to submit to a lawful test.

Woods, 50, rolled his Land Rover after clipping a pressure cleaner truck while trying to overtake it at “a high rate of speed”, according to Sheriff John Budensiek.

The golfer, who had to crawl out of the passenger door of his vehicle, passed a breathalyser test after the crash but refused a urine test.

No-one sustained any injuries in the incident which took place on Beach Road in Jupiter Island just before 14:00 local time on Friday (about 19:00 GMT).

Sheriff Budensiek told a news conference: “The DUI investigators came to the scene and Mr Woods did exemplify signs of impairment.

“They did several tests on him. He did explain the injuries and surgeries that he’s had and we did take that into account, but they did some in-depth roadside tests.

“When it was determined, he was placed under arrest and taken to the Martin County jail.

“At the Martin County jail, and even on scene, we were really not suspicious of alcohol being involved in this case and that proved to be true.

“Mr Woods did a breathalyser test with triple zeros, but when it came time for us to ask for a urinary analysis test, he refused.”

Budensiek also said Woods had been “co-operative but was trying not to incriminate himself”.

“He has a right to refuse that test,” added the sheriff. “There is a statute which he will be charged with for refusing to take that test, but we will never get definitive results as to what he was impaired on at the time of the crash.”

US president Donald Trump was asked about the crash on Friday, saying: “I feel so badly. [Woods has] got some difficulty. There was an accident. That’s all I know.

“He’s a very close friend of mine, he’s an amazing person, an amazing man.”

Sheriff Budensiek said Woods would remain in jail for eight hours then be released on bond. The charges are misdemeanours, not felonies.

The BBC has contacted the golfer’s representatives for comment.

This is not the first time Woods has been involved in a car accident – he has played a limited schedule since the serious crash in 2021 that left him with extensive injuries and fortunate to be alive.

In 2017 police officers also found him slumped at the wheel of his parked Mercedes-Benz not far from his Florida home.

A toxicology report found Woods had several legal medications in his system and marijuana’s active ingredient, and he was sentenced to a year’s probation after pleading guilty to reckless driving.

In 2009 Woods hit a fire hydrant, a tree, and several hedges in a bizarre collision outside his home.

The incident sparked accusations of extramarital affairs which led to the end of his seven-year marriage and the loss of lucrative sponsorship deals.

[BBC]

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Sri Sumangala cruise to semis after Kumarasiri heroics

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Sri Sumangala College, Panadura secured a convincing five-wicket victory over Sri Dharmaloka College, Kelaniya in their Under-19 Division I Tier ‘B’ cricket quarter-final at Kuruvita on Friday, sealing a place in the semi-finals with two sessions to spare.

‎All-rounder Mevindu Kumarasiri played a decisive role in the win, following up his outstanding bowling performance with a vital knock of 44 runs to guide his team to the target of 157.

‎Sri Sumangala’s run chase was anchored by Kumarasiri and Neksha Iddamalgoda, who shared a crucial 85-run partnership for the fourth wicket after the early setbacks. The stand effectively put the Panadura side on course for victory.

‎Kumarasiri’s brisk 44 came at just under a run-a-ball and included five boundaries, while Iddamalgoda top-scored with 49, striking seven fours in a fluent innings. Although both batsmen were dismissed before the target was reached, their partnership had already taken the sting out of the chase.

‎Bihanga Silva and Sadika Damyuru then completed the formalities, steering Sri Sumangala past the target to wrap up an impressive victory.

‎The win was particularly remarkable considering Sri Sumangala had been bowled out for 144 in their first innings. However, Kumarasiri turned the game dramatically in their favour with a superb six-wicket haul that dismantled Sri Dharmaloka for just 89 in the second innings.

‎His match-winning all-round performance proved to be the turning point as Sri

Sumangala capitalised on the opportunity to book their place in the tournament’s semi-finals.

‎Scores

‎Sri Dharmaloka 211 all out in 76.3 overs

(Kaveen Deneth 106, Senuka Pehesara 29, Koshitha Adithya 19; Mevindu Kumarasiri 5/82) and 89 all out in 35 overs (Tharusha Mihiranga 24; Mevindu Kumarasiri 6/41, Methum Fernando 4/42)

‎Sri Sumangala 144 all out in 48.4 overs

(Neksha Iddamalgoda 47, Bihanga Silva 36, Mavindu Kumarasiri 21; Tishan Nipun 4/43, Sathindu Prabhoda 3/44, Koshitha Adithya 2/27) and 160 for 5 in 34.3 overs (Vidura Basuru 33, Sandeep Wijerathna 19, Neksha Iddamalgoda 49, Mevindu Kumarasiri 44; Koshitha Adithya 4/64) (RF)

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PSL 2026: Teams allowed to submit two XIs and pick one after toss

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Hyderabad Kingsmen captain Marnus Labuschagne warms up [PSL]

Shaheen Shah Afridi and Marnus Labuschagne, captains of Lahore Qalandars and Hyderabad Kingsmen, walked out with two team sheets each for the toss ahead of the opening matchof PSL 2026 and selected their final XIs based on which way the coin fell.

This was in accordance with a new regulation in the PSL playing conditions, which permits the captains to submit two team sheets to the match referee before the toss and finalise one of the submitted line-ups after the toss.

The clause 1.2.1 in the “Nomination and Replacement of Players” section reads: “Before the toss, each captain may submit two (2) different XI lineups in writing to the PSL Match Referee. Each lineup must include 11 players and a maximum of 4 substitute fielders (subject to Clause 1.2.5). After the toss, each captain must finalise one of the two submitted lineups by signing the selected team sheet. Once the final lineup has been nominated, no player listed in the selected playing eleven may be changed before the start of the match without the consent of the opposing captain.”

Tosses can play a significant role in this part of the world in night matches as a result of dew. The ball often gets wet and difficult to grip for the spinners, making them ineffective in the second innings. This change in the playing conditions is expected to provide a level playing field – a team batting first can add a fast bowler instead of a spinner while a team batting second can look to add depth to their batting.

There were no signs of dew in the first match of the season however because of the wind throughout the day and cloud cover.

[Cricinfo]

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