Thursday 16th February, 2012 15 Beruwala FL football A peep into the in full swing BY M. H. M. IRHAM in Dharga Town

A soccer knock-out tournament, organised by the Beruwala Football League, is now in progress and matches trophy cupboard are being held at the Zahira College Ground, Darga Town. 15 teams are contesting the tourna- BY REEMUS FERNANDO three years ago. The trophy is named after ment which was declared open by Malcolm Mack (St. Benedict’s) and Trevor Croner Beruwala Football League President M. With the school cricket season almost coming (St. Joseph’s) who captained their respective F. M. Fazlan. to a close, teams are now playing their most treas- schools in the mid 70s. According to sources of The tournament is organized by ured traditional fixtures. Some of these fixtures these two schools, the two cricketers who passed Beruwala Football League Secretary M. have been played for more than a century. Schools away during the last decade had scored a century R. M. Sinan with the help of which cherish the traditions associated with each in 1976 and 1977. Tournament Committee Secretary M. S. these matches have introduced trophies and When Wesley College meets S. Thomas’ M. Rizmin. shields named after former cricketers to add College, Mount Lavinia each year, in their tradi- value to these decades-old fixtures, which are sec- tional encounter, they play it to own a piece of Sri Results of qualifying round match- ond only to their traditional ‘Big Matches’. Lanka’s pre-Test era cricket, Mahadevan es: In last week’s history making feat by Wesley Sathasivam. The batting great, who is said to have Berbaryn SC beat Dharga York SC 1-0, College against their oldest cricket rival, Royal captained three national teams (Sri Lanka, Green Line SC beat Super Stars SC 3-0, College, the boys from Reid Avenue won the Singapore and Malaysia) first studied at S. Liverpool SC beat Super Sun SC 2-1, Campbell Park team the Sir Frank Gunasekara Thomas’ College, before moving to the Campbell Zavia SC beat New Young Stars SC 9-2, shield, which is named after a former Royalist Park school. Sun Rise SC beat United SC 6-5 on who had close connections with Wesley. It was the Dharmaraja College, Kandy and Nalanda penalty (ended one all) first time in 43 years that Wesley won the shield. College, Colombo battle annually to own the Y.M.S.C. beat Golden Rise SC 1-0, This weekend, beleaguered Royal College will Bandula Warnapura Trophy (named after Sri Great Stars SC beat Chelsea SC 2-0, meet Prince of Wales College in yet another tro- Lanka’s first Test captain), while the former and phy encounter. The trophy, which is at stake, is Mahinda College, Galle clash to own the The quarter-finals: among the most valuable pieces of silverware in Woodward Trophy, which is named after a past 11th of Feb. - Berbaryn SC beat Green the trophy cabinets of all cricket playing schools. principal (1903-1919) of Mahinda. Dharmasoka Line SC 2-0 The Dr. O. L. F. Senaratne Challenge Cup, which and Ananda battle it out to lay hands on the Ajith 12th Feb. - Zavia SC beat Liverpool SC 5- was introduced in the year 2000, has two portions de Silva Trophy. Sadly, the two schools are unlike- 0 of ivory embedded to its lid and neck, giving it a ly to meet this season to fight for this trophy 18th Feb. - Sun Rise SC vs Light House majestic look. The trophy is named after a distin- named after another former Test cricketer pro- SC guished Cambrian, whose son represented Royal. duced by these education institutions. 19th Feb. - Y.M.S.C vs Great Stars SC The silverware is now in the custody of Prince of When St. Joseph’s College, Darley Road and St. Wales College, which won it in 2010. It has been Anthony’s College, Katugastota meet for the 100th First semi-final: donated by Senaratne’s son. time in their traditional fixture this weekend, 25th Feb. - Zavia vs. Berbaryn SC Last week, when St. Benedict’s College settled they will battle it out for the Murali-Vaas Trophy Second semi-final: for a draw against St. Joseph’s College in their named after world’s highest wicket taker Muttiah On 26th Feb. Royal and Prince of Wales will clash for the Dr. O. L. F. Senaratne encounter at Kotahena, the Mack-Croner trophy Muralitharan who played for St. Anthony’s and Challenge Cup, which is one of the most treasured pieces of silver- was shared. No team has recorded an outright vic- former Sri Lanka bowling spearhead Chaminda The grand final: ware in the schools cricket scene. tory in this series after the trophy was introduced Vaas who played for the Darley Road school. On 4th of March Sri Lanka needs more hard courts to develop – renowned coach DDN Gonzalez eliminated in first By Revata S. Silva Sri Lanka Tennis was out two months ago,” Former Sri Lanka rep and Association (SLTA) pointed out Selvadurai round at Brazil Open presently a Canada-based veteran premises have six who represented Sri tennis coach David Devarajan hard courts that were Lanka in the in Fernando Gonzalez Nevins Selvadurai, better known built only a few years years 1959 and ’60 becom- BY TALES AZZONI month in Miami. Gonzalez won 11 ATP events and the three Olympic medals — gold, silver as DDN Selvadurai, says Sri Lanka ago during the tenure ing the first Tamil SAO PAULO (AP) — Soon-to-retire and bronze. He reached the final of the 2007 needs at least seven hard courts of Suresh National from Jaffna to Fernando Gonzalez of Chile fell to Igor , losing in straight sets to spread across the island if the Subramaniam as its play in the prestigious Andreev of Russia 6-2, 6-3 in the first round of , and was a semifinalist at the country needs to develop tennis President. Clay courts annual international the Brazil Open ATP tournament on Tuesday. 2009 . fast. get severely affected tournament. He is also The 31-year-old Gonzalez, who last week Earlier, fifth-seeded Carlos Berlocq of “Sri Lanka has two very strong due to continuous the founder of the DDN said he will play only two other events before Argentina defeated Eric Prodon of France 6-4, monsoons every year. So, it’s diffi- rain which curtails Selvadurai Scholarship retiring, lost to the big-serving Russian qualifi- 6-0. The 42nd-ranked Berlocq, runner-up at the er in just more than an hour. Gonzalez had the cult to maintain clay courts for a play for a long period Fund aimed at helping Vina Del Mar VTR Open last week, saved five DDN Selvadurai support of the Brazilian crowd but won only break points in the first set. He cruised to vic- long time unless the clubs are rich of time every year and, develop tennis in Sri six points on Andreev’s service games. tory with three straight service breaks in the enough to relay those courts peri- according to Selvadurai, hinders Lanka. “I was happy, I tried to enjoy all the second, with Prodon double-faulting four odically. It is difficult to depend development of the sport decisive- Selvadurai is an Australian moments because I know the end of my career times. greatly on clay courts due to this ly. qualified tennis coach having is near,” said Gonzalez, currently ranked 266th Spanish qualifier Ruben Ramirez Hidalgo, weather condition,” explained “Nearly Rs. 30 m is the cost for nearly 50 years of experience. He in the world. the oldest player in the main draw at 34, need- Selvadurai to ‘The Island’ on one hard court. The SLTA can was the coach of two prominent The former No. 5 in the world announced ed 2 hours to defeat Rui Machado of he was retiring because he lacks the energy to Wednesday, Feb. 15, in an inter- raise funds to build them. We need tennis players, Arjun Fernando 6-3, 1-6, 6-2. Romania’s Victor Hanescu beat play at the top level after a series of back, knee Joao Souza of Brazil, 6-3, 6-3. view. at least seven of them. It is easy to and Suresh Sivagnanam. He has and hip injuries in recent years. South America’s biggest city is hosting the Sri Lanka has less than 15 raise funds in Sri Lanka as it is a worked under legendary coaches He will play the Copa Claro in Argentina in clay-court event for the first time after 11 edi- active outstation clubs and almost sporting country. There are 20 bil- Nick Bollettieri and Harry the next few weeks and then will end his tions in the northeastern city of Costa do all of them have clay courts. The lionaires here in Colombo. The list Hopman in USA. career after the Masters tournament next Sauipe. Rampant Samoa power to USA Sevens title Samoa beat Series leaders New Zealand 26-19 with the last play of a thrilling final to clinch the USA Sevens title at the Sam Boyd Stadium in Las Vegas. With the scores locked at 19-19 and the game looking destined for extra time, man mountain Alafoti Faosiliva powered over wide out on the right to score a memorable winning try. In taking the Las Vegas title, Samoa become the fourth nation to win a Cup title after five rounds of the 2011/12 HSBC Sevens World Series. The victory takes the Samoans up to fifth in the World Series standings on 69 points. New Zealand still lead the table with 92, only five clear of Fiji in second. South Africa lie third on 76 after they won the third/fourth play-off against the Fijians, and England are fourth with 74. Faosiliva crossed for Samoa’s open- Samoan celebrates after defeating New Zealand 26-19 to win the USA Sevens rugby tournament, Sunday, Feb. 12, 2012, in Las Vegas. (AP) ing try mid way through the first half and, although Charles Piutau pulled one the New Zealanders level. Autagavala, after tries from Bryce to the delight of the crowd. ending a successful two weeks for back for the kiwis, Paul Perez gave the However, the Samoans were to have Heem, Tomasi Cama, Mark Jackman After a disappointing first three tour- Geriant John’s side. Samoans a one-try lead at the end of a the final say when they worked the ball and captain DJ Forbes helped New naments of the World Series, Kenya France win Shield bruising opening 10 minutes. well upfield with an 18-pass move and Zealand to end South Africa’s USA look back to their best, adding this Plate Dubai Sevens runners-up France beat After the break Faatoina Autagavaia found Faosiliva, who stormed through Sevens title defence. victory to a Bowl triumph in Wellington Scotland 22-7 in the Shield final after put the islanders two scores clear, but two defenders before diving over the Kenya win Plate last weekend. beating Brazil in their semi final thanks Tomasi Cama broke through to score line for the winning try. Sidney Ashioya, Humphrey Kayange Canada take Bowl to two tries from Jean Baptise Belanger under the posts and with the clock run- Earlier, the Samoans edged Pacific and David Ambunya all scored to help Sean Duke scored a dramatic try in in the first match of day three at the ning down Ardie Savea latched onto a rivals Fiji 14-12 in one semi fina with Kenya come from 7-0 behind to beat the dying seconds of the Bowl final to Sam Boyd Stadium. (www.irb.com) clever ball from Lote Raikabula to pull tries from Paul Perez and Faatoina Argentina 21-7 and lift the Plate trophy give Canada victory against Australia,