Rare privilege for Lanil, Michael

Hafiz Marikar

The schools league rugby season draws to a close in the Singer Segment "A" group, but they are finding it difficult to complete fixtures due to indiscipline displayed by few spectators. It is absolutely shocking and has gone completely beyond the control of the Schools Association. The SLRFU and the Referees Society should come forward and help the game, because schools are the nursery of club rugby. What I feel as a rugby lover and writer is the controlling body should not allow any referee to coach and coaches to referee, like in the good old days, both at school and club level.

All schools and Clubs have expended much time and sweat in the promotional aspect of the game and are disappointed due to the present situation. Even senior players are saying that, it is high time some solution is brought to this problem. Schools and Clubs spend a large sum in brining foreign coaches to promote the game and rugby fans pocket out a tidy sum to watch the matches.

This writer spoke to one of the top forwards Kandy and the country has produced, Lanil Tenakoon. He says the Sri Lanka Rugby Referees Society which does a lot for the game, should immediately look into this matter, if not the game will go to the dogs. And also the spectators will be driven into a trouble making mood.

Lanil Tenakoon together with Michael Jayasekara played for an international team in 1978. This was a rare privilege of representing an Invitation International Rugby Team, with several other top class players. This international team played against Hong Kong in the Hong Kong Rugby Football Union Silver Jubilee year. This game took place after the famous Hong Kong sevens and was played at the Government Stadium in Hong Kong, under lights where the strong international team beat the Hong Kong ruggerites by 18 points to 10. The winner's points were made out of a goal and three tries to a goal and a try from Hong Kong. A large gathering enjoyed this game, which produced super rugby. This writer was at this game together with the 1978 Sri Lanka fifteen-a-side skipper Irwin Howie.

From the kick off, the international side came up with some good forward moves. Within ten minutes of play, Australian Mark Loans, the Captain of the team playing as number eight, made an excellent break from a scrum and sent Korean King Young-Hoo for an unconverted try. The international team came back into attack and off a maul Mark Loans powered his way and sent Japanese Naoshi Kumagai to score between the post. This try was goaled by Indonesian Michael Worrall to give the international side ten points. The ten points came in just seven minutes.

The Hong Kong ruggerites were playing at their peak and their first try came from second row forward Will Layfied who picked up a pass from winger Ian Duncan.

This was goaled by fullback Marinte Dark. From this scoring, the Hong Kong ruggerites were on the ball and center Jim Wilson dashed over 30 meters to score in the right corner. This try went unconverted and the scoreboard read ten points each at half time. After the turnover, Korean Min Joon Ki scored a try for the international side.

This too was not converted. 15-10. Then came a fine move from the forwards, where all the eight had the opportunity of handling the ball and ultimately Sri Lanka's Lanil Tenakoon had the honor of scoring a superb try which too went unconverted. So, the final score was International side 18. Hong Kong 10. Harry Birckwood refereed and the two Touch Judges were Kjack Jonston and Re Noel James.

The International XV had players like Jerry Clare (New Zealand), Nasjhoi Kubo (Japan) Philipo Num (Papua New Guinea), Lanil Tenakoon (Sri Lanka), Siope Moutiamuaka (Hawai), Min Joon Ki (Korea), Naoshi Kumagai (Japan), Mark Loans (Capt Australia), Zulkiply Abulazzi (Malaysia) and Sab Doiwa (Papua New Guinea) Richard Duck (Bahrain), Kin Young Hoo (Korea), Michael Jayasekara (Sri Lanka), Caguary Dolpraset (Thailand), Michael Worrall (Indonesia).

That year the Sri Lanka team to the Hong Sevens was led by Mohan Balasuriya. The rest of the players were Lanil Tenakoon, Michael Jayasekara, Angelo Wickremarathne, Ronald Rodrigo, Frank Hubert, Jeffery de Jong and J. Rudra. Gamini Fernando was the Coach Cum Manager.