By A Special Sports Correspondent

Kandy Sports Club continued impressively for the second week in the domestic league rugby tournament when they thrashed Army Sports Club by 70 points to 5 at Nittawela grounds on Saturday.

The winners were unstoppable in both halves and ran down nine tries in total out of which eight were converted by place kicker and fly half Tharinda Ratwatte. He also slotted in three penalties to swell the Kandy SC score. Army responded with a solitary try through Sudaraka Dikkumbura early in the first half. The soldiers were forced to play catch-up rugby for the rest of the game after that impressive try.

Former Trinitian and national player Ratwatte was in fine form with his kicking boots and also chipped in with a try. His overall contribution to his team’s score was 30 points.

In the other match played on Saturday at Ratmalana, Havelocks SC did well to down a fighting Air Force Sports Club outfit by 30 points to 19. The winners were leading 18-11 at half time.

Havies collected their points through five tries, one conversion and one penalty while the losing team responded with two tries and three penalties.

On Friday, CH & FC recorded their maiden win for the season by beating Police Sports Club by 39 points to 27 at Police Park. CH collected their points through five tries, four conversions and two penalties while Police ran down three tries and converted all three. The policemen also got points through two penalties. The tournament is conducted by Sri Lanka Rugby.

St. Sylvester’s College, Kandy and Hemamali Girl’s College, Kandy emerged champions in the BASL Youth Boxing Championship to retain the General Jagath Jayasuriya Challenge Trophy conducted by the Boxing Association of Sri Lanka at Sahas Uyana, Kandy.

Stubbs Shield champions St Sylvester’s won a total of nine medals inclusive of four gold medals, three silver and two bronze medals while Hemamali won five gold medals and one silver medal.

Formerly a tournament for Cadet boxers, this tournament is for 17-18 year olds.

Royal College, Colombo were runners up in the boys division also winning a total of nine medals comprising two gold, two silver and five bronze medals.

St. Sylvester’s College, Kandy.

Sripalee College, Horana were runners-up in the girls category winning a total of eight medals consisting of four gold medals, one silver and three bronze medals.

IND Thathsara of Nalanda College, Colombo who won the fly weight (51kg) title defeating Sylvestrian PGTP Maduwantha was adjudged the Best Boxer (men) while KMN Sandeepani of Hemamali who won the fly weight (52kg) title was picked as the Best Boxer (women).

There were outstanding performances from Stubbs Shield Best Boxer Royalist Thenuwan Meegalle who outpointed Sylvestrian TL Dharmapriya in the feather weight (57kg); Best Boxer at this meet last year Sylvestrian KGSK Heshan who won a tough duel against Sri Lanka junior international and medallist A Azil of Zahira College, Colombo in the light weight (60kg) final; and Trinitian Shezan Odayar who scored a stunning first round win over another Sri Lanka junior international Royalist Malith Bandara in the middle weight (75kg) final.

NM Abdulrahaman (54kg), JMT Deshan (63.5kg) and SGM Azhar (71kg) were the other gold medal winners for St Sylvester’s.

All Island National School Games Best Boxer and Best Boxer at this meet last year Chathuni Siriwardena (50kg), HGS Sewwandi (57kg), UGSD Perera (63kg) and AMU Devindi (81kg) were the other gold medal winners for Hemamali.

The Sri Lanka Air Force emerged as the undisputed champions of the women’s category at the 13th Defence Services Taekwondo Championship 2024/2025 concluded successfully at the Gymnasium of SLAF Base Katunayake last week.

The women’s team secured an impressive haul of five gold, two silver and nine bronze medals. The SLAF men’s team settled for the runners-up position with a tally of four gold, one silver and one bronze medal. Aircraftman Prabashwara DPGAM was recognized for his exceptional performance and was awarded the prestigious title of ‘Best Player’ of the tournament.