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NFSL defends choice of tour official
by Shirajiv Sirimane reporting from KandySeveral Netball Federation officials are upset over ‘The Island’ exposure over the selection of officials for the inaugural junior Asia Cup Netball championships scheduled to be held next month in New Delhi.
‘The Island’ pointed out that manageress of the tour Yasmin Dharmaratne had already toured twice this year while Umpire Trixie Nanayakkara has missed officiating in most of the major events conducted by the NFSL.
A senior NFSL official said that Yasmin was selected for this tour. She is a dedicated and hard working official (Deputy President) in the NFSL. Her first tour to Australia this year was at her own expense, she said. "When we offered this post to some other NFSL officials they declined to accept it. Anyway you tell me, who else is there to accept a post of this nature?" she asked.
Trixie pointed out that she was selected since she was the next senior umpire in line for a tour. "I am a Gold Medal (a Grade) umpire and once they gave a D Division match. This is very unfair," she explained. "Anyway I do not get invited to officiate in most of the NFSL tournaments " she further said.
‘The Island’ also understands that over 10 netball officials are gearing themselves to tour India to witness the Asia cup as observers.
The junior team consists of outstation players.
Following is the team for the Asia Cup to be competed by India, Bangladesh, Maldives, Japan, Singapore, Malaysia, Honk Kong and Sri Lanka. Harshani Wijayalatha (Captain) (Hatton National Bank), Manoji Preethika (Vice Captain), Sri Lanka Ports Authority), Anoma Sriyakanthi (National Youth Council), Manoji Ranchagoda (Kalutara DNA), Manoji Priyadharshani (Kalutara DNA), Nazlim Nazeem (Kandy DNA), Vishaka Sandamali (Wennappuwa DNA), Niroshani Samandrika (SLPA), Arunika Udayani (SLPA), Sujeeva Nilmini (SLPA), Ratna Victoria (SLPA), Madavi Samaratunge (Samurdhi), Sakunthala Weeraratne (Mahamaya Kandy), Shamala Fernando (Wennappuwa), Lakmini Gunasekera (SLPA), I. R. Tissera (Coach), Sakunthala Wijetunge (Asst. Coach).
NCC and Bloomfield record outright wins
By Jatila KarawitaIn the Under 23 tournament cricket fixtures worked off yesterday in the metropolis NCC and Bloomfield recorded outright wins respectively against Matara Sports Club and Moors whilst Tamil Union and CCC had to be content with first innings wins in their matches against Anthonians SC and Colts SC. NCC who were set a victory target of a mere 28 runs struggled all the way through in their second essay before ultimately coasting home with five wickets in hand.
The lads from down-south really made it tough for their more-fancied counterparts from Colombo and though they ended up being on the losing side full-credit must nevertheless go to them for fighting all the way through the match despite having being shot-out for low-scores in both innings. For the winners NCC this match underlined their team-work and the all round strength of the Colombo 7 club as it proved to be a bit too much for the inexperienced cricketers from Matara as they eventually went down to NCC in what turned out to be a low scoring fixture.
Meanwhile at Reid Avenue, Bloomfield also registered an innings and 34 run outright win over Moors Sports Club with R. Weerasinghe coming up with a good all round display for the winners. Weerasinghe who made a score of 50 in Bloomfields first innings total of 279 all out picked up a match haul of five wickets to rout the hapless Moors to totals of 122 and 123 respectively to give his team this facile Innings win. He also received good support from Bateesha De Silva who in fact went on to top score for Bloomfield with 68 returned the best figures for his club in Moors second innings of 3 for 14 as the Braybrooke Place Club was subjected to this humiliating innings defeat.
Chief Scores:
NCC 149/9 dec. & 28/5 (S. Kelum 3/8, P. Nissanka 2/21), Matara 65 & 111 all out. (N. Guruge 38, S. Ramsan 3/28, S. Kelum 19, Anil Redeegammanagedera 3/27, Malinda Bandara 2/27, J. Sigera 2/23)Bloomfield Vs Moors - Bloomfield 279 all out. (Taraka Gunarathne 41, B. Mendis 24, Bateesha De Silva 68, S. Dissanayake 42, R. Weerasinghe 50, M. Palihakkara 5/87).
Moors 122 & 123 all out. (D. Ariyapperuma 23, P. Senevirathne 30, R. Weerasinghe 3/14, P. Wickramasinghe 3/30, S. Dissanayake 2/31).
Tamil Union vs Anthonians
Anthonians 164 & 2/87 at close. (B. Ekanayake 34, L Rodrigo 24 n.o.), Tamil Union 210/7 wkts dec., (Sagara Kumara 26, I. Ariyarathna 43, Gayan Wijekoon 67, B. Jeganathan 33, N. Weeraman 19 n.o. , C. Samarasinghe 5/83).
CCC Vs, Colts SC. Colts 223 & 52 for no wickets, (Dilshan Vitharana 36 n.o., K. Ranjan 16 n.o.).
CCC 124 for no loss continued 387/9 wickets dec., (D. Hunukumbura 87, B. Ediriweera 67, A. Polonnowita 91, B. Karunarathne 22, R. Fernando 23, I. Gallage 56, N. Rajan 21 n.o. Dinuka Hettiarachchi 7/127).
Dwight’s brilliance seals victory
by Ravi NagahawatteA Walkers and Whittals combined team won the annual Travel Trade Rugby Sevens Tournament when they outclassed a combined Mackinnons and Citadel "seven" 24-7 in the final worked off at Havelock Park yesterday.
The superior Walkers/Whittals outfit moved the ball easily and worked their way into the opposition territory at ease as they ran up a 12-0 lead at half time . Former Thomian Sean Dwight showed signs of his former briliance as a school boy ruggerite by initiating almost all the tries and had a hand in the first touch down itself. Bursting into the opposition thirty with the game two minutes old Dwight carved the way for teammate Jehan Unantenne to go over and later sent prop Abeysuriya under the posts following a similar break.
Mackinnons/Citadel gathered "life" into their game with a try by Janaka Herath early after the crossover.But Dwight sealed the match for his team with a beautiful interception and added the icing on the cake by planting the ball under the posts. The winners opened the second half with a spectacular try by linkman Shihan Yehiya.
In the semi finals which was worked off earlier on Walkers/Whittals beat Hem Tours 31-0 while Mackinnons/Citadel overcame Grand Orient Hotel 12-0.
Cambrians in innings win over Kingswood
Reggie Goonewardene - Moratuwa Sports CorrespondentPrince of Wales College, Moratuwa, registered their second win when they beat Kingswood College Kandy, by an innings and ten runs in their Inter-School Cricket encounter concluded at Moratuwa.
Having dismissed Kingswood for 132 runs last evening the Cambrians were 186/5 overnight and continuing Janaka Gunaratne who was 63 was out for 83 while Sahan Gunaratne who had hit 28 was out for 34 and ended up with 233/9 declared in 77.5 overs.
Kingswood College going in for their second essay were bundled out for 96 in 56 overs with T. Madanayake 35 and M. Wattegedara 18. Cambrian skipper took 4/9 along with M. Bandara 3/18.
CHIEF SCORES:
Kingswood College 1st innings 132 all out and 2nd innings 96 all out in 56 overs — M. Wattegedara 18, T. Madanayake 35, M. Bandara 3/18 and Hasantha Fernando 4/9. Prince of Wales College 1st innings 186/5 overnight 233/9 dec. Janaka Gunaratne 83, Sahan Wijeratne 34, B. Dananjaya 18, T. Madanayake 4/82 and W. Seneviratne 4/63.
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