75th Battle of the Saints organised by Joe-Pete past cricketers

Celebrations galore

St. Joseph’s and St. Peter’s have done well through the years to fulfil their respective obligations, so as to ensure that their traditional cricket encounter became a much looked forward to event in the sports calendar of both colleges.

Apart from promoting and fostering a healthy competitive spirit amongst the cricketers, it has also turned out to be an enjoyable social occasion for many.

This year however the event assumes a measure of importance, in that this cricket encounter arrives at a significant milestone, in celebrating its 75th anniversary. A sustained existence of seventy five years by any standard and in any endeavour is a fine achievement, worthy of celebration in a manner befitting the occasion.

And so this has quite rightly, led to the past Cricketers Association and, those of the Cricket Foundation of St. Peters, coming together for the first time to jointly organise and conduct a series of pleasurable events - to serve as a lead up to the 75th annual cricket encounter between St. Joseph’s and St. Peter’s that takes place on the 6th and 7th of March at the Sara Stadium.

Celebrative Events

It was learnt from the President of the Peterite Cricket Foundation, Suranga Seneviratne and the President of the Joes Past Cricketers Association, Arthur Hakel, who addressed a media briefing on Tuesday, that the celebrative events lined up would be the over 40 years, 30 over cricket match to be played at the St. Joseph’s College grounds for the Gary Melder Trophy the next would be the over 40 years of age, 30 overs reunion match of those cricketers who played in the 50th encounter, on the 4th of March at the CCC grounds - this would be followed on the same evening by a dinner at the Hilton.

The respective stag nights will be held on March 5 at the clubs of the Old Joes and Old Peterites. The gathering of the fraternities of both the Joes and Petes would be at the Dance, which will be held on the 9th of March at the Hilton.

The chief guest at the Gary Melder Trophy match, would be Angelo Rayer, the master in charge of Josephian cricket in 1969.

The trophy that was presented by Brian Obeysekere, has been won by St. Joseph’s on 6 occasions and twice by St. Peter’s, in this eight year old encounter.

There will be a trophy for the best batsman presented by Benji Leonidas, a trophy for the best bowler, the man of the match will receive the Trevor Croner Trophy presented by Dushan Soysa, the best all-rounder will be awarded the Darrel Wimalaratne Trophy presented by the Wimalaratne family.

The main purpose and intention of this well meaning fortnight filled with much fun and frolic, is to bond together all those associated with both colleges.

From Abroad

There will be many coming from abroad, to take part in the activities that centre around this historic occasion. And so there will be an air of festivity, which will promote a sense of well-being, with much camaraderie and bonhomie.

Undoubtedly there will be the pleasant moments of swapping stories, repartees and rejoinders, witticisms and wisecracks, all in emotional, nostalgic vein - not forgetting as well the singing of golden oldies, with a particular emphasis on “Oh when the saints go marching in”.

Quite naturally these days, there minds will travel through the corridors of time, pause for awhile in the chapel stray into the classroom lab or library, amble about in the lobbies, compound and grounds and relive those glorious days in school.