Panduwasnuwara RC win Rajan Trophy

In the 7th T. R. R Rajan memorial 20/20 cricket tournament played at the Nittawella Stadium recently saw Panduwasnuwara Rotary Club winning the championship with Kurunegala Rotary Club taking the second place.

In the Rotaract tournament played on the same venue, same day Rotaract Clubs of Colombo Millennium City and Colombo Mid City emerged as champions with University of Moratuwa taking the second place. In this tournament 20 teams in the Rotary and 18 teams in the Rotaract were seen in action. It was a carnival atmosphere at Nittawella, where the Rotarians their families and the Rotaract Clubs, were seen enjoying the day, with every one getting a chance to perform. There was a kiddies corner, and there was fun for the ladies and cricket for the men.

The cricket tournament was played under the distinguished patronage of District Governor B. D. R. Suri Rajan, a sports lover and a live wire in promotion of sports in the hills.

Rotary clubs from North, East, West, South and Central were seen in action. The cricket displayed was superb, every one who was at this tournament enjoyed the days cricket.

In the Rotary A quarter finals, Colombo South RCA beat Kelaniya RC, Moratuwa RCA beat Peradeniya University RC, Mid Combine Mid City/Millennium RC beat Nuwara Eliya RC, Combine RCA beat Nikaweratiya RC. In the semi-finals, Moratuwa RCA beat Colombo South RC, Mid City Millennium RC beat Combine RCA.

In the Grand final, the Combined team of Rotary Clubs of Mid City and Millennium beat Moratuwa to pocket the 2009 T. R. R. Rajan Memorial Trophy.

In the quarter finals - Kelaniya RCA beat Katugastota RC, Kandy Heritage RCA beat Wennappuwa RC, Kurunegala RC Club beat Kolonnawa RC, Wariyapola RC beat Galupura RC, Panduwasnuwara RC beat Kandy Metropolitan RC, and in the semis Kurunegala RC beat Kandy Heritage RC, Panduwasnuwara RC beat Wariyapola RC.

It was a grand final between Panduwasnuwara RCA and Kurunegala RC. Both sides displayed good entertaining cricket, which was enjoyed by the large gathering.

And at the end Panduwasnuwara Rotarians emerged as winners in a thrilling game of cricket.

The awards ceremony was fantastic, it was well arranged and the Kandy Heritage RC club received the Best Dressed cricketer's award, and the Rotaract Best Dressed team award won by Rotaract Club of Kandy.

Rotarian Chinthaka from Kandy Heritage Club was adjudged the Best Fielder and the Rotaract Best Fielder award went to Moratuwa's Kusal, Best Bowler Rotary - Ranga of Kurunegala, Rotaract Ishki of RCC/MC Combined, Best Batsman Rotary - Shen (RCC/MC Combined), Man of the Tournament Rotary Chathurika Panduwasnuwara, Rotaract Shen Combined (RCC/MCC), Rotaract - Runner-up - University of Moratuwa , Champions Rotaract Clubs of Colombo Millennium City and Colombo Mid City.

Rotary - A runner-up Kurunegala R.C, Champions Rotary Club of Panduwasnuwara. The new President Ayesha Wijaratne, who was in-charge of the organising part and was sporting the chairman's position in this event, did a grand job. She was well backed up by the Kandy Rotarians the host.