Fifteen teams for Provincial 'B' Division rugby tourney

BY S. M. JIFFREY Abdeen - Kandy Sports Correspondent

FIFTEEN teams have entered the Provincial 'Caltex B Division' rugby tournament organised by the Central Province Rugby Football Union which will get underway on June 18 according to the General Secretary of the CPRFU Viper Gunaratne.

The teams which have entered this Central Province Rugby Tournament are:

Group A - Dimbula Athletic & CC, Kurunegala RFC, Old Anthonians SC, Old Vidyarthians SC, Mapanawathura RFC, Matale RFC.

Group B - Katugastota RFC, Old Rajans SC, Aruppola RFC, Dambulla RFC.

Group C - Dickoya Maskeliya CC, Peradeniay University, Old Trinitians SC, Old Kingswoodians SC, Nuwara Eliya RFC.

From the above clubs Dimbula and Dickoya are one of the oldest rugby playing clubs in the island when this game was introduced by the expatriate planters over a 100 years ago.

Dimbula have won the League title while Dickoya has figured in the finals of the league competition during the time the European planters together with the locals made them a force to be reckoned with.

Kurunegala RFC too have played in the premier League competition and the Clifford Cup for two years but did not fare too well and now they have decided to start from the bottom again.

Old Trinitians Sports Club too had two seasons of top league rugby before they withdrew from the game. They are also staging a come back after a lapse of number of years.

It is heartening to note that a team from Dambulla is participating in this tournament along with clubs like Old Kingswoodians, Old Vidyarthians and Old Rajans.

Viper Gunaratne said that the matches are due to commence on June 16th and will be played on a knock out basis and the winners of the respective group will march into the SLRFU 'B' Division tournament. The winners will be known by July 19th when the last of the group at matches will be played.

Viper Gunaratne also said that Dimbula, Matale and Dickoya have drawn byes and will walk into the semi finals of the group matches.

The following fixtures have been arranged:

Group A: June 18th Kurunegala Vs Old Anthonians and Old Vidyarthians Vs Mapanawatura RFC. Dimbula ACC bye, and will meet the winners of this match on July 2nd. The finals will be played on July 14th.

Group B: Matale Bye: Katugastota RFC Vs Old Rajans SC on June 11th and Aruppola RFC Vs Dambulla RFC on June 25th. The winners of this match will meet on July 7th and the finals will be against Matale RFC on July 14th.

Group C: Dickoya bye, Peradeniya University Vs Old Trinitians SC on June 11th and Old Kingswoodians Vs Nuwara Eliya RFC on June 26th. The winners of this match will meet on July 19th and the finals will be played against Dickoya also on July 19th.