Saturday 21st April, 2012 15

Joe-Pete rugby match abandoned decision was undertaken it seemed. The Shankari, Dineshkanthan rains began to fall around 3.15pm when the junior matches were on and it esca- top-seeds at lated into a heavy downpour. The severi- ty was evident as the winds were furious Rain gods prey on school in their pursuit not even letting the Bandarawela Open advertising hoardings to stand up. The match, the 42nd edition in the Tennis series and played for the Fr. Basil BY REVATA S. SILVA rugby season opener Wiratunga Memorial shield, had a lot riding on it as this is the rugby’s version Shankari Thayakaran and current of the big match between the two saints. Davis Cup player Thangarajah No concrete date has been confirmed yet Dineshkanthan are top-seeds at the for the rescheduled match with schools Women’s and Men’s Open Singles respectively at this year’s Bandarawela Referee Aruna out of place regarding a renewal accord- Jayasekere (cen- Open Ranking (‘B’ Grade) Tennis ing to SLSRFA secretary Susantha Tournament, which is now underway tre) and the Mendis. “We asked the two schools to at the floodlit clay courts at assistant refer- come to a solution for a new date. St. Bandarawela Tennis Club. ees inspect the Joseph’s is prepared to play the match According to Dharaka Ellawala, the water-logged today (Saturday) or on Sunday but Sri Lanka Tennis Association appoint- field at St.Peter’s have issues with that. They say ed Tournament Referee, the tourna- ment which commenced last Tuesday Bambalapitiya their coach won’t be in the country as he (April 17), can be completed today where the annu- has to attend a funeral overseas and al Joe-Pete (Saturday), the final day of the compe- there’s a problem concerning the venue tition. Yet, there was no event that had rugby encounter too as it isn’t available according to the been completed until last evening, was to take organizers.” Mendis said. mainly due to rain which interrupted place yesterday. Commenting on how the points will play on Thursday (19). The match was be allocated in case of a no-replay, Traditionally, the Bandarawela abandoned by Tournament follows the other upcoun- Mendis said that this was the first time the referee due try Open Ranking Tennis Tournament, that they had faced a situation like this. to lightning and the Hill Club Tournament, which con- “We have seen matches postponed but an unsuitable cluded last weekend. That too was this-the whole match being abandoned-is severely affected by rain, prompting pitch. (Pic by something new to us too. But I’m pretty the organisers to shift two main Kamal certain that it’ll be played at a new date events, the Men’s Doubles and Mixed Wanniarachchi) because this is a big match.” Doubles, to Colombo, to be played next week. July 14 is the date St.Peter’s have sug- Dineshkanthan clinched the Men’s gested for the shelved match which Open title in Nuwara Eliya, while this BY CHATHURA PINNAWALA grounds, Bambalapitiya had to be aban- 4.25 and speaking to the ‘The Island’ said would see it being played after the season year’s Sri Lanka Fed Cup rep, The Singer league Division I-A sea- doned due to ‘bad playing conditions and that the playing surface and lightning concludes. In line with the latest develop- Roshenka Fernando won the Women’s son opener between St.Peter’s College lightning’. had been the main causes behind the ments, it is being suggested that a quick Singles. and St.Joseph’s College scheduled to be Referee Aruna Jayasekara called off decision. The ground was swallowed up fix for the date will be found during din- played yesterday at St.Peter’s College the match after the final inspection at by water by that time and the sensible ner that was to take place last evening. Under-19 Cricket Four School Rugby Moratu Vidyalaya Division-I-A matches Why Tendulkar has remained regain Division I this weekend in international cricket for spot Defending champions, Royal College will start their campaign against promot- BY REEMUS FERNANDO ed D.S Senanayake College today at the such a long period Moratu Vidyalaya, who were Royal Complex in what will be one of the demoted to Division II of the pre- four matches scheduled for the weekend. mier Inter School Under-19 Cricket Royalists, who finished the last season BY BRO. NIMAL GURUSINGHE he allows the ball to come to his bat. tournament last year for a breach of unbeaten, are led this season by Arshad 4. He believes in milking the bowling Jamaldeen and could well be gearing up For a cricketer to play at the inter- and getting ones and twos. He does tournament rule, regained their to have a tilt at the title this year too. national level continuously for 23 years not depend only on sixes and bound- Division I spot recording a first They are coached by Bilal Yusuf and the is not an easy task. aries. Some modern day cricketers innings victory over St. Thomas traditional strength lies in the forward Another remarkable factor is that always try to score fours and sixes. College Matale in the promotion play which a hallmark in nervy fixtures his batting average is above 50. During 5. He treats every ball according to its match which ended at Matale yester- last year. his career he has reached many mile- merit. He rarely plays premeditated D.S having received back-to-back pro- stones. For him to score 100 centuries shots. day. motions is back in the top flight and they in international cricket is another 6. Opponents have to work hard to get Moratu Vidyalaya scored 190 would want to continue that merry run. landmark. He also holds the record of his wicket. runs in the first innings in reply to Lakshan Wishwajith will lead the side scoring 200 runs in an ODI. 7. Whenever he gets a loose ball, it is St. Thomas’ 140 runs. Later chasing and A.C Tennakoon who was behind them Now I would like to analyse how dispatched to the boundary. Every like a rock during their upward climb is he could go on for such a long time bad ball gets the treatment it a target of 131 runs to win Moratu the coach for the third consecutive year. with his head high and delivering the deserves. Vidyalaya were 56 for two wickets at In the hill country, Knockout champi- goods as often as possible. As an ardent 8. He keeps himself very fit. Very sel- Tendulkar close. ons Trinity captained by Kanil cricket fan, I admire him due to the fol- dom does he get injured. Even if he Moratu Vidyalaya will play in the Seneviratne will try to come out of the lowing reasons. is injured it’s for a very short period. helps his team, his partner and him- Division I tournament from next shock last year to set the record straight 1. He is a master technician. 9. He rarely loses his concentration. self. against Science College at Pallekele. 2 He has tremendous concentration 10. His footwork is simply amazing. 14. He always plays for his team. That season (2012/13). Science announced their arrival last sea- powers. He does not throw his wicket 11. His running between the wickets is helps him to remain in the team for a The two teams were the highest son by stunning the Lions in Mount away in a hurry. I do not think pres- excellent. long time. ranked teams in their respective Lavinia and that springboard propelled ent day cricketers have such concen- 12. He knows how to read every bowler. 15. He has had no disputes with any of groups of the Division II tourna- them to dizzy heights. They were the tration powers. 13. Often, Tendulkar speaks to his part- his captains. He supports his captain upcoming team of the previous season 3. He does not chase after balls. Instead ner and safeguards his wicket. That to the hilt. ment. While Moratu Vidyalaya will and the adventurous displays earned be promoted to Division I category, them many admirers. They will again be St. Thomas will have to remain in under the shrewd directive of Mothilal the Division II category. Jayathilake who is trying to build a new superpower. Number 8 Kanchana Perera The top two teams of the other will don the captain’s armband and would two groups in the Division II catego- want to intimate that the last year’s hero- Former Wallaby Lynagh recovering from stroke ry are S.D. S Jayasinghe College and ics weren’t a blue moon. BRISBANE, Australia (AP) — Still ered well enough to be walking around son and a great teammate ... I am sure Karandeniya Central. They will Meanwhile Kingswood and appearing fit after retiring nearly two his hospital room, although others sug- everyone in rugby will be supporting meet each other to decide the second St.Anthony’s will get their campaigns decades ago from a rugby career that gested he may have lost some vision in him, (wife) Isabella and their family at under way in Nittawela and Isipathana team who will advance to Division I included a World Cup victory and 72 his left eye and that generally, the left this time.” faces Division I-B champions Vidyartha at tournament. The date of the match tests for Australia, 48-year-old Michael side of his body had been affected by the Australian chief execu- Royal Complex on Sunday. (CP) Lynagh was hardly in the high-risk cate- stroke. tive John O’Neill said he had received has not been finalized yet. gory for a stroke. Former players and other sportspeo- calls from around the world asking Scores: But the former Wallaby flyhalf and ple have been paying tribute to Lynagh. about Lynagh. St. Thomas’ 140 in 42.2 overs one of the most well-liked players — by South Africa great Victor Matfield “It is an indication of the status he (N.J. Kennedy 50, Lahiru teammates and rivals alike — was recov- tweeted: “Thinking of Michael Lynagh holds within our great game,” he said in Madusanaka 33; Shanaka Roshan ering in a Brisbane hospital after being and his family. Just show we must live a statement. “Michael has been a won- admitted complaining of headaches and everyday to the fullest.” derful Wallaby, but also a wonderful 4/25, Dushan Sulakshana 3/23, blurred vision. Lynagh was in a stable Ireland flyhalf Ronan O’Gara said on man, which explains the outpourings of Tahruka Fernando 2/06) and 180 for condition on Friday as doctors attempt- Twitter his “thoughts and prayers with support and good luck messages to 9 in 61 overs (Shehan Thailakasiri ed to determine what caused the stroke Michael Lynagh and his family tonight. him.” 54, Shehan Wijethunge 36, Lahiru while he was dining with friends on Wishing him a speedy recovery.” Lynagh was instrumental in Madhusanka 29; Ishan Pieris 2/27, Monday. Former England players Mike Australia’s 1991 World Cup win. He Lynagh recently arrived back in his Tindall, Richard Hill and Austin Healey scored a try in the final minutes when Shanaka Roshan 2/29, Tharaka hometown of Brisbane from London, also sent along their wishes, as did for- his side was down against host Ireland Fernando 2/59) where he lives after having forged a suc- mer England cricket captain Michael in the quarterfinals, and Australia went Moratu Vidyalaya 190 in 47.4 cessful post-rugby career in marketing Vaughan, whose tweet included a hash- on to beat New Zealand and then overs (Thilan Kavishka 79, Ishan consulting and as a television analyst. tag followed by the word “legend.” England in the final to claim its first While DVT (deep-vein thrombosis) Lynagh’s former teammate Andrew World Cup. Pieris 31, Kanishka Prabath 25, complications from the 22-hour flight Slack told Australian Broadcasting He captained Australia from 1993 to Janitha Samarajeewa 20; Lahiru from England via Singapore for a school Corporation radio the stroke came as a 1995. His test matches came throughout Madhusanka 7/50) and 56 for 2 in reunion were at first thought to be a pos- shock to those who knew him. the 1980s and ‘90s, and he had the world 21.3 overs (Thilan Kavishka 36n.o, sible cause, his family asked the hospi- “There’s not a lot known but he’s test points record of 911 when he retired Sanka Ramesh 14 n.o.) tal not to provide details of his illness. stayed very fit since retiring some years after the 1995 World Cup. On Friday, he was scheduled to undergo ago,” he said. “I think this is a bolt out He also played in England for an MRI. of the blue, there’s no doubt about that.” Saracens, whose official Twitter site has Lynagh was reported in several Another former teammate, Nick Farr- carried numerous updates and tributes Australian newspapers to have recov- Jones, said Lynagh “is a fantastic per- to Lynagh. Maharagama VV Past Pupils’ Association New Year celebrations In this undated photo provided by Reema beat Queensland 23-13 in Super 15 rugby Abdullah, Reema Abdullah, striker of Jeddah The New Year celebrations of the BRISBANE, Australia (AP) — The week to the Canterbury in injuries to Wallaby Quade Cooper, Mike Past Pupils’ Association of Kings United all female team, poses for a pic- Cape Town-based Stormers recovered New Zealand, improved to 7-1 on the sea- Harris, Ben Lucas and Jono Lance, Lane Maharagama Vidyakara Vidyalaya ture in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. Reema from their first loss of the season to dom- son while the Reds are 4-4 and in danger retained the No. 10 jersey despite Harris will be held on Sunday April 29, com- Abdullah, Saudi Arabian female sports com- inate the defending champion of falling well behind the leaders in the and Lucas making their returns from mencing 8.30 am, at the Pamunuwa mentator and an amateur football player in 23-13 in Super 15 rugby Australian conference. hamstring injuries. on Friday. Rookie flyhalf Sam Lane suffered a Playing against many of his old Polwatta Sports Academy Grounds. the ultraconservative Muslim country says Flyhalf Peter Grant scored a try and suspected season-ending knee injury and Western Province teammates, Cape Numerous traditional games, plus she will be one of 8,000 people who will carry kicked three penalties and two conver- rising center Ben Tapuai broke his col- Town-educated Lane ruptured his anteri- loads of fun and entertainment are the Olympic flame for the 2012 London sions to lead the Stormers with 18 points. larbone within the opening seven min- or cruciate ligament when his right knee among the events to be held. All past Games. (AP Photo/Teams Coach and striker They led 17-3 at halftime. utes for the Reds. buckled badly as he made a run with his pupils, along with their family mem- The Stormers, who lost 31-24 last A fifth-choice playmaker due to first touch of the ball. Reema Abdullah) bers are cordially invited.