 The recently concluded Katukurunda Racing Meet, the first round of the RACA Circuit Race Championship 2025, witnessed thrilling performances, with Tharindu Lokuge and Kasun Dhanushka Sudasinghe emerging as the best driver and rider, respectively. This championship is a three-round circuit Race, drawing significant attention from motorsport enthusiasts. A Growing Competitive Scene It was encouraging to see a large number of SL-E March competitors participating in the event, which marks a positive development in the Sri Lankan motorsport scene. The high turnout highlighted the increasing interest and enthusiasm for the sport.
Overcoming Challenges to Host the Event Despite facing numerous obstacles, Royal Automobile Club Asia successfully conducted the event with the far-sighted & unsurpassable leadership of It’ President Rizmin Razik. One of the major challenges was the withdrawal of the organizing permit at the last moment on the 27th by the Ministry of Sports and the Royal Automobile Club Asia had no choice but to seek legal recourse, obtaining a ruling from the Court of Appeals, with legal support from Hafeel Farisz, Naveen Maharachchige instructed by Sanduni Rathanayake.
 Additionally, the Minister of Sports appointed an administrative committee, which included several ineligible members. This unlawfully appointed committee attempted to influence decision-making, but Royal Automobile Club Asia remained firm in its commitment to organizing a successful event. The point is that there are a number of ineligible members in this administrative committee who had influenced the Minister and the private secretary of the minister, Mr. Darshana Varagoda.
 March 30th was a remarkable day in Sri Lanka’s motor racing calendar, thanks to the efforts of the Royal Automobile Club Asia (RACA). The event featured 24 races, all conducted without any incident, a testament to the club’s exceptional organizational capabilities. The public turnout was impressive, with enthusiastic crowds supporting the event throughout the day. However, it was not without opposition, as several parties attempted to sabotage the race by misleading the authorities. RACA had to secure a court order to ensure the event could proceed as planned.
 Recognizing Excellence in Event Management The flawless execution of the Katukurunda Racing Meet demonstrated RACA’s high level of competency in managing such large-scale events. Those who attempted to disrupt the race should have attended to witness RACA’s capabilities firsthand.
As motorsport enthusiasts, we must continue to support associations like RACA, which work tirelessly to promote and develop the sport. Having witnessed the entire event, I extend my gratitude to RACA for their outstanding organizational skills, enabling us to enjoy a world-class racing experience.
Looking Ahead: More Thrilling Events to Come Royal Automobile Club Asia has announced plans to host two more racing events in July and September this year. I urge the public, competitors, and even those who opposed this event to support those who are working hard to manage risks while delivering top-tier entertainment. The government should also play a more constructive role in fostering these events rather than being influenced by those attempting to undermine this incredible sport.
 The post Tharindu Lokuge and Kasun Sudasinghe Shine at Katukurunda Racing Meet appeared first on Newswire. | ↑ |
Gateway College Colombo emerged victorious at the Sri Lanka Schools’ Basketball Tournament 2024 – A Division (Boys Under 17), demonstrating their dominance on the court through a series of exceptional performances. Competing against 19 leading schools from across the country, Gateway College showcased outstanding teamwork, skill, and determination to secure the prestigious championship title. The journey to the top began with a string of commanding victories in the first round, as Gateway triumphed over Mahanama College (67-31), S. Thomas’ College, Mt. Lavinia (55-49), St. Sebastian’s College, Moratuwa (64-36), and Loyola College, Negombo (87-63).
At the knockout stages, Gateway advanced to the semi-finals as Colombo International School forfeited their match. In a thrilling semi-final encounter against Royal College Colombo, Gateway displayed remarkable resilience and composure under pressure, securing a hard-fought 57-50 victory to earn a spot in the final.
In the grand finale, Gateway delivered a champion’s performance, exhibiting remarkable skill, teamwork, and defensive solidity to overcome Ananda College, Maradana. With a commanding 68-52 victory, Gateway firmly established itself as the best Under 17 team in the A Division. The team’s stellar performance was further underscored by individual accolades: Ashane Thevarapperuma was named the Most Valuable Player, while Dulain Thevarapperuma received the Best Defensive Player award. Sudam Liyanage of Ananda College was recognized as the Best Offensive Player.
Final Standings:
Gateway College Colombo’s triumph at the Sri Lanka Schools’ Basketball Tournament 2024 is a testament to the school’s dedication to nurturing young talent and fostering a culture of excellence in sports. This latest victory adds to the school’s proud legacy in basketball, continuing their success from last year’s All-Island Under 15 A Division Championship. The team’s achievements have been bolstered under the expert guidance of Head Coach Tharindu Fernando, who has recently been appointed as the National Head Coach for Sri Lanka’s Under 16 team. The post Gateway Triumphs Over Royal and Ananda to Clinch All-Island Basketball Championship appeared first on Newswire. | ↑ |
As Pakistan departed Dubai and New Zealand readied itself for a visit to the Emirates, the absurdity of what is clearly a compromised Champions Trophy came into full view. In a tournament it is hosting, Pakistan’s defence of the Champions Trophy came with a whimper at a venue 2,000km from home against its arch-rival India. New Zealand, which are the third favourites to win the Champions Trophy behind India and Australia, secured a spot in the semifinal of the tournament by beating Bangladesh. They will play India, which was granted the right to play exclusively in Dubai for security reasons, on Sunday there and then return to Pakistan for a semifinal next week. It is entirely possible, based on form, that they will then return to the Middle East to play India in the final of the ICC Champions Trophy hosted by Pakistan … in Dubai. Having started the tournament with a win over Pakistan in Karachi, they defeated Bangladesh in Rawalpindi, which is more than 1,100km away. It is nearly 2,000km to Dubai for the round-robin bout with India. The Kiwis then have to travel that distance back to Pakistan for a semifinal next Wednesday. If they manage to survive for the final, and it is played in Dubai, they will have travelled up to 8,000km from the time the tournament began with two international trips thrown in. And if not New Zealand, it is probable that either Australia and South Africa will also visit Dubai for a sudden-death final after playing the rest of the event around Pakistan. While every pundit agrees it is better for world cricket that India is playing the Champions Trophy, this event will always carry an asterisk as a result. In a chat with another ex-England captain in Mike Atherton, former skipper Nasser Hussain outlined the reasons why India are advantaged in this Champions Trophy. It is not only to do with travel, but also in terms of being able to select a squad certain of the characteristics of the spinning-friendly conditions they will confront in Dubai. “So the best team in the tournament has that advantage,” he said on Sky Sports. “I saw a tweet the other day saying, ‘Pakistan host nation, India home advantage’. And that sort of sums it up. They’re in one place. They’re in one hotel. There is no travel. They are in the one dressing room. They know the pitch. They’ve picked for that pitch. “I think (with) selection, when they selected, they were very smart. They probably knew what Dubai was going to be like. They picked all their spinners. There was a bit of debate … from Indian media saying, ‘What haven’t you gone for the extra seamer? Why all these spinners?’ Well, we’ve seen why. And other sides have not done that. “Pakistan … had one frontline spinner, you could argue. When the injuries came, they should have changed that, and I’ve made that argument. “But all the other sides have to pick for different conditions (in) Karachi, Lahore, Rawalpindi, Dubai, and then they have to travel and adjust to those conditions. So it is an advantage. But … once India refused to come here to Pakistan, what else could happen? “You can’t have a tournament about this without India (or) Pakistan. That’s not going to happen. So it had to be in Dubai, and they sit happily and comfortably there, knowing that they’re going to, you know, probably play six games there, and if they win all those, they’ll win another global tournament.” DOES INDIA RECEIVE PREFERENTIAL TREATMENT IN ICC EVENTS? NOT EVERYONE IS CONVINCED. It is not the first time India have been seen to be favoured in an ICC ODI competition in the past 18 months, but at least in 2023 they were the hosts of the World Cup. There was some grumbling in that tournament that India, which played superbly at home until beaten by Australia in the final, received preferential treatment at home. It may have been perception only, but there is an argument that the hosts received decent breaks between matches and also drew the weakest opponent in the last round of the marathon round-robin stages, which helped with their planning for the event. While India had played the last match in T20 World Cups in 2016, 2021 and 2022, the only time it had happened previously in the post-2000 era in ODI World Cups was 2011. It was also reported by the Mumbai Express that the pitch at Wankhede Stadium prior to a semifinal against New Zealand had the grass shaved from it to make it slower, which prompted condemnation from Fox Cricket expert Michael Vaughan. The concerns about this tournament were raised as far back as January after it was confirmed India would be based in Dubai as a compromise given security reasons. Aside from the history between the two nations, the impact of the 2008 terrorist attack in Mumbai shook India and the world and is a reason for the nation’s reluctance to play in Pakistan. But whether it is fair is another matter. In January The Times of India reported concerns from former Pakistan Test bowler Salim Altaf about the situation. “India is the only team that knows where it will play the semi-finals and the final, while the other teams will only know once the group stage is completed,” he said. “Unlike other teams, India will not go from venue to venue. It will avoid the logistics of travel besides getting similar kinds of pitches and a cricketing environment at one venue. “It is not fair on other teams. It is surprising to me that the other cricket boards did not raise any objections.” English journalist Jonathan Agnew said last weekend that forcing Pakistan to play India in Dubai in a tournament it is hosting made a “farce” of the event. “I feel very uncomfortable about the way that India is being treated at the moment. This is wrong,” he told the ABC. “If you’re going to play international tournaments, you can’t pick and choose where you play and where you’re not going to play. I don’t see how long this can carry on for. It makes a farce of these tournaments.” ADVANTAGE INDIA BUT ROHIT SHARMA AND HIS MEN WILL FACE GREATER CHALLENGES India still have to get the job done and while their depth is incredible, the competition is set to get tougher for the remainder of the Champions Trophy. Atherton, while certain they are advantaged, said it is difficult to quantify how much the short-priced favourites for the Champions Trophy are benefiting from being able to use Dubai as a home away from home in this tournament. “The advantage India has in playing in Dubai, only in Dubai, which seems to me to be a hard to quantify advantage, but an undeniable advantage,” he said on Sky Sports. “They’re playing at just one venue. They don’t have to travel either between venues or, you know, between countries, as a lot of other teams have to do. Therefore the selection can focus on the conditions in Dubai, and obviously they’ll know where they’re playing their semi final as and when they get through to that, that seems to me to be an undeniable advantage. “But, you know, kind of hard to quantify how big, how big an advantage.” (Fox Sports) The post ‘This is wrong’: Cricket world debates India’s ‘huge advantage’ in Champions Trophy appeared first on Newswire. | ↑ |
Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) imposed a fine of US$ 10,000 on Dasun Shanaka for breaching the terms of the player contract he entered into with SLC. The decision follows an incident where Shanaka, after playing for his domestic club in the ongoing Major Club Three-Day Tournament, withdrew early due to an injury. This is following the player submitting a medical certificate, which recommended Shanaka to rest, and hence he did not take part in the remainder of the match. However, on the same evening, he travelled to Dubai and participated in a franchise league match. This action was deemed a breach of several contractual clauses that require players to uphold the highest standards of professionalism, integrity, and commitment to Sri Lanka Cricket. During the inquiry, Shanaka acknowledged his actions and expressed regret for any inconvenience caused. He also clarified that he did not act with dishonest intent and assured SLC that he would exercise better judgment in the future. Sri Lanka Cricket remains committed to maintaining the highest ethical and professional standards and will continue to take necessary measures to uphold the integrity of the game. (SLC) The post Dasun’s fine : Official SLC statement appeared first on Newswire. | ↑ |
Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) has imposed a fine of US$ 10,000 on former cricket captain Dasun Shanaka for breaching contractual obligations. Imposing the fine, the SLC states that Dasun Shanaka had requested three days’ leave citing an injury sustained during a domestic match played on 02 February 2025, but had during that period participated in a foreign franchise league match in Dubai. Stating that it had taken into consideration the cricketer’s written response and apology, the SLC said, however, that the Executive Committee has determined that Dasun Shanaka’s actions constitute a breach of contractual obligations. As such, the SLC Executive Committee has decided to impose a fine of US$ 10,000 as a disciplinary measure and has instructed the cricketer to settle the fine on or before 28 February 2025. The SLC has also warned Dasun Shanaka that a failure to comply may result in further disciplinary action. Former Sri Lanka skipper Dasun Shanaka reportedly suffered a neck injury while playing in Sri Lanka in February. At the time, it was reported that the match referee had been informed that Shanaka, playing for the Sinhalese Sports Club (SSC), had suffered an injury during the game against Moors Sports Club. SSC sources stated that Shanaka does not regularly play red-ball cricket but voluntarily joined the match as SSC was facing relegation and had left the game only after receiving a medical report advising him to rest. Later that evening, he travelled to Dubai, expecting to be available for the International League T20 (ILT20) according to his contract. However, since he felt fit to play, he underwent a final medical assessment on the same night and was cleared to take the field for Dubai Capitals later that day. However, his participation came under fire after it was revealed that he left a Premier League Tier A match of the SSC before its completion. With conflicting reports about his injury status and departure from the SSC match, SLC conducted an inquiry to determine whether all protocols were properly followed or if any rules were violated. (Newswire) The post 10,000 USD fine for Dasun Shanaka from SLC appeared first on Newswire. | ↑ |
The Royal College Pool was buzzing with excitement on the 8th of February 2025. The papare bands were playing, the DJ was belting out tunes, the stalls outside were packed and the crowd were on their feet, making for an unforgettable day out at Reid Avenue. Apart from the several matches being played ranging from the u9s all the way to the u17s, there were two back to back nail-biting finales in the eagerly anticipated RCUAC Challenge Shield Water polo Tournament. The tournament organized by the Royal College Union Aquatic Club (RCUAC) is synonymous with providing opportunity to uncover young talent and has kept pushing boundaries to emphasize the “Love of the Game”. The boys U17 final was a close encounter between arch rivals St. Thomas’ College and Royal College even going into overtime. Ultimately it was Royal College who emerged champions with the final goal count being 12 goals to 11. It certainly indicates that the Thomian outfit this year is one to be contended with due to the efforts of Michael Goonaratne and Dinuk Wickramasighe. They have clearly marked their intentions of putting Royal College to the sword come the all important Dr. R.L. Hayman Trophy later in the year.
 The Girls U17 final played between Ladies’ College and Vishaka Vidyalaya had all spectators and players at the edge of their seats throughout the 4 quarters, only to be decided in the last quarter by a 2 goal difference in favor of Ladies’ College. The two Water polo power houses were in full swing throughout the day showing plenty of skill in the pool. Ramiru Aluthge of Royal College and Anya Dias of Ladies’ College were recognized as best performers in their age category in the finals. RESULTS – Champions Boys U9 – Royal College Girls U9 – Visakha Vidyalaya The Mighty Mini Club and the Royal Enfield Club had cars and bikes on display during the day making it an exciting experience center just outside the pool premises. The hairstyling truck provided by Unilever was a hit with all the girls school teams as they made their way straight to it for hair care and styling options with Sunsilk after a full day in the pool and sun.
 Sri Lanka Water polo has seen a huge improvement in numbers with this tournament bringing in 450+ athletes represented in 34 teams. The tournament format is designed to give opportunity to all teams and for the best 2 teams to enter into a final under a full capacity crowd creating that big match feeling for every player, coach, parent and spectator at the venue. The tournament director Mr Ulfath Uwais has made significant strides to this fledging tournament which started in 2022 after taking over from Mr Shan Lakshitha, making it the best in Sri Lanka. The Under 9 awards were presented by Sri Lanka’s talented Bathiya and Santhush. Their presence no doubt inspired many more teams in the future to compete for the top junior accolades in Water polo. Sri Lanka Swimming Olympians, Matthew and Kyle Abeysinghe were on hand to present under 11 awards. The swimming stars made quite an impact in bringing the aquatic family together at the RCUAC Challenge Shield.
 This year’s tournament was conducted under a social theme and partnered with the Rotaract Club Colombo Uptown (RCCU) to bring awareness to their project “Spectra” to support Down Syndrome and Autism. This is in aid to establish a cognitive Wellness Centre at the UFCM tower, Faculty of Medicine, University of Colombo. The RCUAC was happy to work with RCCU on their efforts to create a better Sri Lanka. The sponsors supporting the event were Norfolk Foods, Royal College Batch of 2003, John Keels Office Automation, Fonterra, LOLC Finance, Hemas, Jetwing Hotels, George Stewart, Baraka, SLIC, Unilever, Bubbleatte, Red FM, Quadrangle, thepapare, MURC Live, Royal College Photographic Society, Royal College Doctor Association (RCDA) and Chocolatte. Special thank you to the LEO Club of Royal College for all their efforts in making this a successful tournament.
 The post RCUAC Challenge Shield – “ For the Love of the Game” appeared first on Newswire. | ↑ |
Australia’s Matt Kuhnemann, who took 16 wickets in the recent Test win against Sri Lanka in Galle, has been reported for a suspect bowling action. According to Code Sports, Kuhnemann’s action was questioned during his impressive outings, which will now force him to undergo a mandatory bowling action analysis test within three weeks. The incident marks the first time the Queensland bowler’s action has come under scrutiny since his professional debut in 2017. “The Australian team was notified of the match officials’ referral following the second Test against Sri Lanka in Galle and will support Matt through the process of clearing this matter,” Cricket Australia spokesperson said. (Newswire)
The post Sri Lanka Tests : Key Aussie bowler reported for suspect bowling action appeared first on Newswire. | ↑ |
The RCUAC Challenge Shield. the most anticipated Junior Water polo tournament in Sri Lanka will take place at the Royal College pool on Saturday the 8th of February 2025 with almost 50 teams from 15 leading schools in the island nation competing for the coveted Shield.
The tournament was initiated by the Royal College Union Aquatic Club (RCUAC) under the theme “For the Love of the Game” and is now a platform to promote Water polo to younger athletes. Event Details:
Participants:
Participating Teams (15):
Referees for the Tournament.
Event Highlights:
Event Amplifiers:
The sponsors supporting the event are Norfolk Foods, Royal College Batch of 2003, John Keels Office Automation, Fonterra, Red FM, Quadrangle, thepapare, MURC Live, Royal College Photographic society, Lanka Hospitals and Jetwing Hotels.
The 2025 edition of the RCUAC Challenge Shield is set to be bigger than the last and promises exciting match ups and entertainment through the day. The Masters game played between arch Rivals Royal College and S. Thomas’ College truly embodies the spirit of the theme, rekindling old friendships and rivalries that stand the test of time. For further details please contact the Tournament Director Mr. Ulfath Uwais and Teams Liasson Officer Mr Mishan Kottearachchi from RCUAC on rcuac@rcu.lk.
The post “For the Love of the Game” – RCUAC Challenge Shield appeared first on Newswire. | ↑ |
Sri Lanka’s star female cricketer Chamari Athapaththu has been named in the ICC Women’s ODI Team of the Year 2024. Describing Chamari Athapaththu, the ICC states; 458 runs and 9 wickets in 9 matches Chamari Athapaththu had a delayed start to her ODI year, playing her first match in April, but she wasted no time making an impact. She struck a half-century in the second ODI against South Africa before producing a career-best knock of 195* in the final match. Her outstanding form carried into Sri Lanka’s home series against West Indies, where the team secured a 3-0 clean sweep. Athapaththu played a pivotal role, smashing a brilliant 91 in the final ODI, narrowly missing out on a century by just nine runs. Meanwhile, Sri Lanka’s Kamindu Mendis has been included in the ICC Men’s Test Team of the Year 2024. Kamindu Mendis is the only Sri Lankan cricketer to be named in the Men’s team. Describing the cricketer, the ICC states; Kamindu Mendis made a triumphant return to Test cricket in 2024 after nearly a two-year hiatus, ensuring his place in the team with a series of stellar performances. His remarkable year began with a tour of Bangladesh, where he scored centuries in both innings in Sylhet. He followed this up with an unbeaten 92* in the second match, finishing as the series’ top scorer with 367 runs. (Newswire)
The post Chamari and Kamindu in ICC’s teams for 2024 appeared first on Newswire. | ↑ |
Football Sri Lanka has roped in another player of Sri Lankan descent ahead of the AFC Asian Cup Qualifiers for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. According to the Football Federation of Sri Lanka (FFSL), Jeremy Perera from Germany has been welcomed to the national squad. Jeremy Perera, a prominent attacking midfielder from the German League, joined the Sri Lanka National team pool yesterday. Jeremy Perera, who resides in Germany with his Sri Lankan parents, met with FFSL President Jaswar Umar to officially join the squad. The Sri Lanka National team is strengthening its lineup ahead of the AFC Asian Cup final round kicking off from March 2025. Asian qualifying for the 2026 FIFA World Cup will see the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) put eight teams directly into the 2026 World Cup, with a ninth team going to the inter-confederation playoffs in hopes of making the tournament. (Newswire) The post SL Football ropes in German player of Sri Lankan descent appeared first on Newswire. | ↑ |
Ahead of the AFC Asian Cup Qualifiers, the Football Federation of Sri Lanka (FFSL) has strengthened its team by adding three prominent players of Sri Lankan descent from the global pool. All three players met with FFSL President Jaswar Umar yesterday at the Football House. The new additions are :
Furthermore, Football Sri Lanka has announced the schedule for the AFC Asian Cup Qualifiers set to kick off in March this year. According to Football Sri Lanka, the national team will engage in six matches, with three to be played in Sri Lanka. Asian qualifying for the 2026 World Cup will see the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) put eight teams directly into the 2026 World Cup, with a ninth team going to the inter-confederation playoffs in hopes of making the tournament. (Newswire)
The post 3 more Sri Lanka-descent players join SL football appeared first on Newswire. | ↑ |
Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) has announced that Niroshan Dickwella has been granted permission to resume playing cricket across all formats with immediate effect. Issuing a statement, the SLC said this follows the decision by the Sri Lanka Anti-Doping Agency (SLADA) to reduce Dickwella’s 3-year ban to 3 months. However, the latest decision by the agency to reduce the time period of his sanction comes following an appeal made by the player, supported by relevant evidence, which has confirmed Dickwella has not consumed any banned substances during the “competition period” and that the identified substance was unrelated to “enhancing sports performance.” The SLC said in light of this clearance, Niroshan Dickwella is now eligible to participate in all competitions conducted by the cricket administration. (Newswire) The post SLC lifts ban of Dickwella, explains why appeared first on Newswire. | ↑ |
Mohammed Siraj and Travis Head have been penalised for their on-field incident during the second Test of the Border-Gavaskar series. Siraj has been penalised 20% of his match fee after being found guilty of breaching article 2.5 of the ICC Code of Conduct for Players and Player Support Personnel which relates to “using language, actions or gestures which disparage or which could provoke an aggressive reaction from a batter upon dismissal.” Head too was sanctioned for breaching Article 2.13 of the ICC Code of Conduct for Players and Player Support Personnel, which relates to the “abuse of a player, player support personnel, umpire or match referee during an international match.” Siraj and Head received one demerit point each on their disciplinary records, marking their first offence within the last 24 months. Both players admitted their respective offences and accepted the sanctions proposed by Match Referee Ranjan Madugalle. (ICC) The post Sanctions for Siraj, Head announced after Adelaide Test appeared first on Newswire. | ↑ |
By Sandaru Munasinghe Following Sri Lanka’s thrilling victory against England, cricket legend Ian Bishop has posed a critical question for the future of Sri Lanka’s pace attack. After a match-winning performance from fast bowlers Lahiru Kumara and Asitha Fernando, Bishop raised concerns about the team’s ability to maintain their fitness and establish them as the core of the Test bowling lineup. “Can Sri Lanka now get Lahiru Kumara and Asitha Fernando to their optimum fitness level, keep them fit, and base their Test bowling lineup around those two for the next four years at least?” Bishop questioned after witnessing their superb display against a formidable England side. While Kumara and Fernando’s raw pace and ability to deliver under pressure have given Sri Lanka a new hope in the fast-bowling department, the challenge remains in keeping them injury-free and at peak performance. Sri Lanka has historically struggled with managing the fitness of their fast bowlers, but the potential of Kumara and Fernando presents an opportunity to reshape the Test team’s bowling attack for the long haul. The coming years will determine if Sri Lanka can rise to the challenge and build a consistent pace attack with these two at its core. The post Lahiru Kumara & Asitha Fernando : Ian Bishop’s question for Sri Lanka appeared first on Newswire. | ↑ |
Sri Lanka spin great Rangana Herath has been appointed as New Zealand’s spin-bowling coach for the three upcoming Tests in Asia. The Blackcaps will play a one-off Test against Afghanistan before heading to Sri Lanka for a two-Test series. The match against Afghanistan will take place at the Greater Noida Sports Complex Ground from September 9 to 13. In a statement, New Zealand Cricket said that Herath is replacing former Pakistan spinner and coach Saqlain Mushtaq who was originally announced to fill the temporary role before pulling out to take up a position with the Pakistan Cricket Board. “Herath, the most prolific left-arm orthodox Test spinner of all time, will stay on with the side through to the two ICC World Test Championship matches in his homeland of Sri Lanka later this month,” the statement said. “Rangana has taken over 100 Test wickets in Galle which is the venue of our two Tests against Sri Lanka and so his knowledge of that venue will be priceless,” New Zealand Cricket said. (Newswire) The post Rangana Herath appointed New Zealand spin-bowling coach appeared first on Newswire. | ↑ |
Joes turned up enthusiastic and determined at Havelock Park, with the utmost intention to play solid Rugby as they did against Royal College a few weeks back, but their Ball handling terribly let them down, disallowing them to score on multiple occasions, where they had crystal clear sight of the opposition’s goal line without any bodies in-between. The boys from Darley Road opened the game portraying some solid defence against very powerful pick and drives by the double built blue Forwards, not allowing the Ball carriers to gain even a foot, which clearly showed St. Joseph’s mindset, determination and the intent to dominate initially.
Once the handling errors started flowing at crucial junctures, St. Joseph’s confidence and game started to wither slowly, as Wesley was able to quickly capitalise on the unforced handling errors to launch their own offensives, with most of them bearing fruitful results. Although Joes were quite tightfisted in conceding penalties, their 11 unforced errors gave the opposition sufficient opportunities to turn things around and score. In addition, the 2 lineouts they lost while throwing in the Ball, didn’t really encourage their mauling intensions either, especially when coupled with the on-field revelation of the actual Maul power of the double blues. One of the Saints Ivano White, had to leave the field due to a horrifically painful injury. However, he was seen limping in pain, with the help of a non-playing student who was almost half his size, making his way to congratulate the double blues after their win. Depiction of such values and sportsmanship is exactly why these sports are played in the first place; thus St. Joseph’s College should be proud of this young Boy who will undoubtably bring abundant glory and honour to his Alma Mater in the future.
Wesley beat St. Joseph’s 34-12 The post Poor Ball handling defies the Saints appeared first on Newswire. | ↑ |
The game was played in front of a virtually-empty venue, as everyone already knew how things were going to pan out. Kingswood did have their moments during several of their onslaughts in which they got very close to the hosts’ goal line. However, resilient defence techniques employed by Joes, consistently spoilt the visitors’ daunting efforts. Kings wood never stopped or got weary of tackling the larger-than-life Joes, even until the end. However, the Saints still kept running the Ball to score successive Tries until the last long whistle. Joes were able to execute and experiment a running game, even with their Forwards, with extensive footwork used to evade, deceive and perplex the defending tacklers. Another familiar scenario observed when playing against smaller-built opponentswas that a single tackler was mostly unable to stop or bring down a Joe, due to the sheer force of mass combined with velocity.
The hosts portrayed improved discipline in this game, giving away only 8 penalties, but their Ball handling was below par again, and should be worked-on and enhanced before their next game against Wesley. Overall, this outing turned out to be a decent practice game for the Maradana Lads, against a reasonably good defensive side, that fought vehemently to protect their borderline until the end. Joes could use these learnings to take into their next tangible target; The Knockouts Trophy! St. Joseph’s beat Kingswood 55–5 The post Joes cast their dominance with maiden half-a-ton haul appeared first on Newswire. | ↑ |
The highly anticipated Friday encounter kicked off to a fairly large crowd decorating Havelock Sports Club in blues, whites and golds. In a well-timed comeback game, the Saints upped their Rugby standards to be on par with last year’s League runners-up, to play some high-quality Rugby and startle, baffle and retrench the Royal Tuskers in the first half. The levelling up was achieved in both attack and defence, as the Saints took maximum advantage of every little opportunity presented to them, to kick down the heavy Teak Door and force themselves through the doorway, which rewarded them with the opening Try of the match. Joes took the Tuskers’ Forwards game to them by picking, driving and mauling their way across the opposition’s goal line multiple times. It is worthy to mention that Royal College boasts the toughest Forwards attack and defence in all of this League. Whenever Royal attacked with the Ball, Joes’ defence was up in arms with the perfect formations to cover all aspects and spaces, that made things quite hard for the visitors, especially during the first half. Joes maintained their regained form in Ball handling by committing only 4 unforced errors in this game, while improving their infringements count by a couple of notches. However, Joes failed to maintain the same discipline and momentum in the latter part of the second half, thereby granting access control to the disoriented visiting team, who gleefully grabbed the opportunity to surge past the hosts. The hosts were also found guilty and charged on 3 counts of ‘high tackle’ infringements, that could have been avoided completely with focused training sessions conducted by the coaching staff. It is of paramount importance that these Boys are taught the safest method / techniques to engage during contact situations, so as to ensure their safety. They should also be educated, when not to engage, as and when the parameters concerned raise a red flag at that specific moment in time. The Joes will have a lighter game when they meet Kingswood next Friday, which they can use to iron out the rest of their miscellaneous shortcoming, before they meet the formidable Wesley outfit in the subsequent week. Royal beat St. Joseph’s 28-19
The post Week 6 – Schools Rugby League 2024 Saints scare the Tusks out of the Tuskers! appeared first on Newswire. | ↑ |
The blue striped Lads from Darley Road held back the flamboyant three-quarter Brigades to a modest win in their annual encounter for the Rev. Fr. Basil Weeratunga Shield. On a rain-stricken weather that submerged almost the entire playing field at Bamba, most enthusiasts failed to turn up at the kick-off, as they were expecting a certain abandonment. However, the young Peterites who were hard at work to draw out as much water as possible before the curtains rolled up, did a fabulous job in making it a playable turf. As the game progressed, the Stands kept filling until it was finally a decent turnout, that was fitting for a Joe-Pete match.
Pre-match, Joes had an uphill task of containing the super-fast and elusive SPC three-quarters, and they were looking at a defeat with a deficit of 30 plus points. With a little bit of help from the damp and slippery surface, and relentless defending and tackling by the visitors, the deficit was reduced to a mere 15. Both teams struggled with the wet conditions, hence made numerous errors throughout the game. However, St. Joseph’s Ball handling was pristine even in such slippery conditions, as they conceded only 3 unforced errors. This was a steep step up from their last game against Thurstan in which they conceded a whopping 12. Nevertheless, their penalty count shot up to 15, which should be halved before their next game. The other few shortcomings were due to the poor playing conditions, hence the Joes and their Clan should be proud of how the Boys carried the College Flag under turbulent weather.
St. Peter’s beat St. Joseph’s 25-10 The post Joes hold back defending Champs! appeared first on Newswire. | ↑ |
Joes returned to their usual dominating style of Rugby as they thumped new comers Thurstan College down to register a thundering win in their third outing of the season. The Saints came into stiff resistance by the much-improved defence of the newbies that induced excessive handling errors in the first half, that slowed down their onslaught. However, Joes sprang into action showing some urgency combined with dominance to overrun a weary Thurstan unit during the last quarter of the game to register a win by a massive margin. Following their last dismal performance with the Boot, the Saints have worked on their kicking skills that reflected in their tremendous improvement in slotting 5 out of 6 conversions; notably, one of those conversions was from a tight angle. Their touch finding accuracy has been sharpened as well, and looked exemplary in this outing. It is noteworthy that the improvements achieved in their last game in ensuring continuous support play is available at all times in order to keep advancing with the Ball, and to eliminate ‘holding-on’ infringements has been maintained to perfection in this outing. The consolidation of rucking and cleanout techniques have also been carried forward meticulously into this week, that has, and will help Joes strengthen their stance and possession in the Rucks. It is quite rare to observe corrective measures being carried into the future weeks in the Schoolboy Rugby arena, hence it is encouraging and heartwarming to see St. Joseph’s College carrying the Torch on this one, quite impeccably. In order to get ready for the next killer game against Wesley, Joes would have to at least halve their penalty and unforced error count. The Forwards Coach Dulanjana Wijesinghe would have to work extremely smart on Maul defence and come up with a tactic to diffuse the Wesley Maul formation, as the first option. Working on counter-tactics to manage or control the Maul following its formation would be a long and rocky road considering the muscle power of the double blues. One of his preferred earlier tactics has been, not to engage in Mauls within close proximity to the goal line, which has proven quite costly for the Joes in the past, as once a moving Maul reaches a certain momentum, it would be unstoppable. Therefore, careful all-round planning and flawless execution is crucial to overcoming the next hurdle for the Joes. St. Joseph’s beat Thurston 47-9 The post Week 3 – Schools Rugby League 2024 Joes dominate in the last quarter! appeared first on Newswire. | ↑ |
