Sports
Rugby’s obsessions and the big men who want their ‘cake’
By A Special Sports Correspondent
Rugby in Sri Lanka is slowly seeing a revival in terms of spectator interest. If one saw the increase in crowds at the last couple of deciding games of the inter-club league rugby tournament there is room to harbour hopes for the future.
Kandy SC attracted the greatest number of fans no doubt this season. And CR&FC was a close second; in terms of the power to attract viewers. All these statistics are vital from a sponsor point of view. Sponsors love crowds and for the game to have a huge fan base. The security forces and the police can vouch for the fact that there were crowds when they hosted matches at home venues. But in the past crowds at such matches were a mix of employees of the establishment plus visitors; in other words, the public. In the late 1980s and early 1990s fans went to watch Police SC in action because the law enforcement officers were represented at rugby by legends in the game; individuals who also went to represent the country at rugby. Sadly, despite some clubs like Police and Havelock SC having household names in rugby, the sport or these clubs failed to attract sponsors in their numbers like it happens in present times.
One of the biggest complaints against club rugby- many seasons ago- was that the game was slow and predictable. You see schoolboys playing fast open rugby and being nippy on the field. A few seasons later they step into the adult world of rugby. By acquiring employment these young school leavers start to enjoy food and beverages which were not on the menu at home or school. This new lifestyle makes players gain in girth. We still don’t see hundred percent solid muscle in the structure of players. But that’s beside the point. Now we see bulky players running fast and the message they give is that ‘the bigger you are, the better you are at rugby’. There is no way this is going to happen. It is disheartening to know that there are some players who maintain that they can follow new training routines aimed at raising performance, but cannot compromise on the 100 kg weight they carry at present. One player in the present set-up who went against this tide is Kandy SC’s Srinath Sooriyabandara (Soori). He lost so many kilos and revolutionized his game. “Soori” is also one of the oldest players featuring in the domestic tournament.
If you see some of the best runners in the game of rugby union they are a lot smaller. Players must work on speed and power, not necessarily getting big. But Sri Lankans-both players and spectators- are obsessed with size. There are other things in the sport of rugby that your must be obsessed with like stadiums, gyms, rehab work and infrastructure development. There was a time when Sri Lanka Rugby (SLR) was boasting about the island’s player base being over 100,000, but then where was the quality in these players?
There are so many obsessions connected with rugby. At one time there was an obsession to plant oneself in Kandy and play for the Nittawela Club. Still Kandy SC is a fantastic institute to represent and be part of because it has not lost its rugby fans. But other clubs like CR&FC and CH&FC have the clout to attract new blood and influence crossovers. As players, each year, ask themselves the question ‘what’s there for me in this offer made by a club that wants me’ the focus has shifted from club loyalty to player welfare. And on a positive note, players are well looked after for their skill and commitment; rugby is semi professional at present in this country and the three forces teams and the police are also good paymasters compared to clubs like Kandy, CH, CR and Havelocks.
In the good old days, there was an obsession for players to work on individual skill. Players like Hisham Abdeen, Chandrishan Perera, Saman Jayasinghe, Tikiri Marambe, Priyantha Ekayanake and Sudath Sampath to name a few were hell-bent on starting individual training before the coach stepped on to the ground and started team sessions for everybody. Today, rugby is more team work and thanks to that the selfish player no longer exists! Rugby today is monotonous and brutal and might not necessarily produce sparks unless there is individual brilliance; like a streak of lightning. There are both the good and the bad associated with rugby in terms of the sport moving away from its old ways and embracing what’s new.
We look forward to rugby on Saturday and Sunday because there is entertainment value in the game again at domestic level. Clubs are now coming up and raising their game. Sponsors are sticking with the game and the institutes that nurture the players. This rugby set-up will be complete if we can pump some blood into the national team and make the cream of the island’s player be available for national duty.
Hurdler Kaveesha Dilshan of Kularathna MV, Godakawela and sprinter Risansa Hirupama of Lyceum International, Wattala were named best athletes for their outstanding performances at the All Island Schools Games Athletics Championships, which concluded at Diyagama on Tuesday.
Dilshan earned the title with a 14.02-second run in the Under 20 boys’ 110m hurdles. Kishal Oshada, the best athlete in the Under 18 category, also comes from his school. Both hurdlers are trained by Thiron Gamage, and both outclassed their opponents in the sprint hurdles.
Hirupama excelled in the Under 20 girls’ 200m. Her time of 24.23 seconds earned the highest score in the girls’ events (1,026 points).
St. Joseph Vaz’s College, Wennappuwa, and Lyceum International, Wattala, claimed the overall boys’ and girls’ championships respectively.
Kaveesha Dilshan and sprinter Risansa Hirupama with
their best athlete awards. (Pix by Kamal Wanniarachchi
St. Joseph Vaz’s amassed 118 points to finish ahead of Maris Stella College, Thimbirigaskatuwa (95). Rahula College, Matara, took third place with 82 points. Former track and field powerhouses St. Benedict’s, Kotahena (54), and Maris Stella, Negombo (54), missed out on the top three.
Lyceum dominated the girls’ category with 215 points. Dharmapala College, Pannipitiya (70), and Ave Maria Convent, Negombo (62), finished second and third respectively.
For the first time in more than two decades, Ratnayake Central were not among the leading teams in the girls’ category. Most of their athletes struggled after an outbreak of flu, but late performances over the last two days helped them secure fourth place. (RF)
Mahanma College, Colombo and Nalanda College Colombo registeted convincing victories in the quarter finals while dark horses Wesley ended Richmond’s unbeaten run with a win according to the DLS method to seal the semi-final spots of the Under 19 Division I Tier A tournament on Tuesday.
Mahanama rattled St. Joseph’s for meagre 84 runs before cruising to a seven-wicket win at Mattegoda. Kaushika Thilakarathne and Sanuka Ganepola shared seven wickets between them to trouble the Joes.
Thilakarathne spearheaded the bowling attack, claiming four wickets for 13 runs in nine overs, while Sanuka Ganepola supported him with an impressive spell of three for nine in nine overs. Sanul Weerarathne captured two wickets for 12 runs.
Mahanama reached 85 for three wickets as Sineth Veerarathne top scored with 52 runs (53 balls).
Nalanda College defeated St. Anthony’s College, Katugastota by 77 runs at Campbell Place.
Nalanda posted a competitive 234 for six in their allotted 50 overs, with Ranmith Senarath top-scoring with 52 off 79 balls. Nemindu Akmeemana contributed 47, while Lithum Wijekumara made 32. Mihin Zoysa added 29 before Santhul Wijeyarathne provided a late boost with an unbeaten 30 off just 13 deliveries.
In their essay St. Anthony’s were dismissed for 157 in 44 overs. Sadew Amarakoon fought hard with 47 off 94 balls, while Kaushika Kumarasinghe scored 38 off 41 deliveries. However, Nalanda’s bowlers maintained control, with Rusandu Silva taking four wickets for 22 runs. Osanda Pamuditha supported him with two wickets for 22 runs to seal a convincing victory for the hosts.
After posting 141 for six in 30 overs, Wesley did well to restrict Richmond to 109 for eight in 23 overs to stay ahead according to DLS method at Weeraketiya.
Adhyaan Zain and Senura Lakshan bowled controlled spells taking three wickets each to seal the semi-final place. Wesley are set to meet Nalanda in the semis. (RF)
by Reemus Fernando
Heshara Jayasinghe, Shashen Rajapaksha and Dilini Rajapaksha were among the athletes who excelled creating meet records during the morning session of the final day of the All Island Schools Games Athletics Championship at Diyagama on Tuesday.
Shashen Ravihansa Rajapaksha of Ratnayake Central Walala set the tone on the track, clocking an impressive 8:58.50 to win the Under 18 boys’ 3000 metres. The time established a new meet record and made the school’s presence felt to a great extent. Many Ratnayake Central athletes had fallen ill recently denying them their usual top positions in the overall points table.
Dilini Rajapaksha in action in the Under 18 girls’ triple jump (L) / K.K. Baalasooriya of Sumana Balika Vidyalaya Ratnapura in action in the Under 20 girls’ discuss throw (R)
In field events, Heshara Jayasinghe of St. Joseph Vaz’s College Wennappuwa produced a landmark performance in the Under 20 boys’ shot put. His effort of 17.30 metres made him the first athlete in the event’s history to clear the 17 metre mark, and it also broke the meet record previously held by Jayavi Ranhinda Alwis.
Abhimani Kodituwakku of Dharmapala College Pannipitiya delivered a remarkable run in the Under 20 girls’ 400 metres hurdles. Her time of 1:01.57 erased the nine-year-old record held by Yamani Dulanjali of Ambagamuwa Central.
K.K. Baalasooriya of Sumana Balika Vidyalaya Ratnapura joined the record-breakers with a throw of 41.82 metres in the Under 20 girls’ discus throw.
Lyceum International Wattala’s Dilini Rajapaksha then created a new meet record in the Under 18 girls’ triple jump, clearing 12.73 metres.
Shashen Ravihansa Rajapaksha of Ratnayake Central Walala
won the Under 18 boys’ 3000 metres with a new record mark. (L) / Gimhani Pulle of St. Andrew’s MV won the Under 18 girls’ 3,000 metres. (R)
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