Final countdown on Caltex Rugby League 2011

Hafiz MARIKAR

The curtain comes down on Saturday, August 13 in the Caltex Rugby League 2011 when the inter club "A" division champions will be crowned.

Currently the defending champions Kandy Sports Club head the points table after an emphatic win against rivals CR & FC at Nittawela on August 7 by 36 points to 8 points, together with the bonus points.

Rugby loving public in Kandy are worried that Havelock SC can beat Kandy SC this weekend, and upset the points standing with the Navy SC and Havelock SC placed 2nd and 3rd in the points table.

However, it's very unlikely that Kandy will lose this weekend with the glamour boys of Kandy in top gear particularly after their win against the fancied CR & FC last week .

Kandy SC for the last two decades have been dominating the local rugby club sevens, Caltex rugby league and the Caltex Clifford cup knockout tournaments registering themselves as the best and popular rugby playing club in the country.

They won the league on 16 occasions in 19 outings, and also has the proud record of winning the triple crown on ten occasions in eighteen years.

All this is due to the player commitment, determined to be at the top and the contribution to their club, in return the club has reciprocated by giving their best for them at all times. It took Kandy Sports Club forty two years to achieve success finally in 1992 when Kandy SC under the Captaincy of Maurice Joachim won the Clifford Cup for the first time beating the strong Police SC side by 22 points to 9.

Since then, there has been no stopping of the club dominating the game in all the tournaments on offer. Some of the coaches Alex Lazarus, Nimal Leweke, Priyantha Ekanayake, George Simpkin, Tulagasue Laga, present coach Johan Taylor have contributed their best towards the team to be in the driving seat for over two decades.

Kandy Sports Club, has been playing rugby since the game was introduced in Ceylon 136 years back. It has a proud history and an unblemished track record.

The club has produced several champion teams in the last two decades, but have also provided the players to the national team in numbers.

In the eyes of the general public and all rugby lovers Kandy Sports Club is known as the cradle of rugby in Sri Lanka. It is said that Kandy Sports Club takes to rugby like ducks to water.

Today rugby is the most popular sport in the hill capital, with the club providing the players with the best of facilities.

The most interesting aspect of Kandy SC rugby is that nearly all members are good ball players.

In 1954, 1955, 1969 and 1978 they entered the cup finals and failed to win. The first three cup finals were against CR & FC and the fourth vs. Havelock SC. So, in 1992 they enjoyed a good season winning the Clifford Cup knockout tournament for the first time, and were placed number two in the League and R. Premadasa knockout tournament.

Havelock SC the first winners of the inter club competition have come back after being in the doldrums for many years.

This season under the captaincy of a Kandy product Kavinda Jayasena have recaptured their past glory.

A big hand should go to their rugby committee Ana Saranapala, Roshan Deen, Kolitha Gunatilake, Chaminda Rupasinghe, Angelo Wickremarathne, coach Tusitha Peries and team manager Lucky Bandara.

The last time they did well in the game was way back in 2003, where they won the premier championship trophy.

So, this time Havelock SC, is trying their best to be on top, and keep the game alive at the Park Club. It was Havelock SC who won the first inter club championship that was way back in 1950.

Navy SC - rugger team raised many eyebrows after they beat the defending "Caltex Premier Rugby League" Champions on July 30 at Welisara.

The Sri Lanka Navy finally broke the unbeaten record of the Kandy Sports Club beating then by 29 points to 25 points after a thrilling encounter, Navy team led by former Thomian Yoshitha Rajapaksa, upset Kandy Sports Club and sent them packing.

His brother Namal with the rest played brilliantly thanks to their coach Ronnie Ibrahim who has done a good job.