Hafiz Marikar in Kandy
The Kandy Sports Club’s Singer-SriLankan Airlines ‘rugby sevens’ with co-sponsorship by Connaissance de Ceylon was a grand success.

The match officials consisted of Dilroy Fernando, Nizam Jamaldeen, Aruna Jayasekara, Anil Jayasinghe and from Overseas Tasi Hirabayshi (Japan), Bernd Gabbei (Germany), Blair Collier (Hong Kong), Malcolm Rowe (Singapore), Ranil de Silva, Prethi Fernando, Rohan Nishantha, Sharath Fernando, D. Nimal, Aruna Rankothge, Pradeep Fernando, Dinka Pieries, Faizal Hussain, Chandima Amadoru, Shen Wi Chang with Tuan Doole as coordinator.

The organisers made the prize distribution ceremony one to remember. On Friday all school teams were hosted to dinner at Nittawella, on Saturday it was a fellowship day for all rugby fans and players followed on Sunday by a gala dinner at Le Kandyan Hotel.

The sponsors were represented by Hemaka Amarasuriya Singer boss, Peter Hill, CEO SriLankan Airlines, Chandra Wickremesinghe, Chairman Connaissance de Ceylans Chandana de Silva (SriLankan Airlines) and Asitha Abeyasekara (Singer).

The elephant parade on the final day with the participating teams and officials, added colour to the show.

The participating country teams comprised Arabian Gulf, Australia, Belgium, Chinese Taipei, Cook Islands, Denmark, Germany, Hong Kong, Kenya, Malaysia, Morocco, New Zealand, Portugal, Singapore, South Korea and Sri Lanka.

The schools which took part were Royal, S. Thomas’s MTL., St. Peters, Wesley, Ananda, Thurstan, Isipathana, Kingswood, Trinity, Vidyartha, St. Anthony’s, St. Sylvester’s, Dharmaraja, Sabaragamuwa Combine, Matale Combine and Ruhunu Combine.

The women’s match played on Sunday, during the luncheon break between KV and Sri Lanka Army SC was won by Kelani Valley Girls by 17 points to 12.

Once again it was a final battle between the last year’s finalists Kenya and Portugal. Last year Portugal beat Kenya, but this time it was a reverse result. The Kenyans shocked everyone by their fine runs and passing. Portugal possessed all the power but lacked good runners and that’s where the Kenyans scored.

In the first semi final Kenya had things to their liking and had a cake walk against newcomers Cook Islands, by 43 points to 5. In the second semi final Portugal beat the favourites New Zealand by 21 points to 12. Portugal came from behind with a strong second half rally to steal victory. New Zealand had everything they wanted, but not the weather.

In the Plate final — Sri Lankans who played Belgium, showed that they too are capable of winning in international tournaments.

The Belgiums showed their superiority in weight while the Sri Lanka’s showed how the ball could be handled.

Sri Lanka finally won by 33 points to 7. In the semi finals Sri Lanka beat Germany 26-19, after trailing 5-19 at half time. Belgium beat Morocco by 10 points to 5 in the other semi finals.

In the Bowl final, Arabian Gulf beat Denmark. In the semi finals — Arabians Gulf beat Singapore while Denmark beat Malaysia.

Kenya’s Oscar Osir was picked as the ‘most valuable player’ of the international tournament with Sri Lanka’s Amjad Buksh taking second place.

In the school tournament — Isipathana beat the Kingswoodians in the final by 5 points to nil. In the semi finals Isipathna beat Wesley by 20 points to 12 and Kingswood beat S. Thomas’ MTL by 25 points to 7.

In the Schools Plate — Royal beat last year’s Cup Champions Vidyartha by 34 points to 7.

In the Bowl final Dharmaraja beat Ruhunu Combined by 26 points to 7.

In the schools tournament the most ‘valuable player’s’ award went to Thomian H. S. Fernando.