Things got even worse for the hosts when Sharo Fernando was sent to the sin-bin in the 20th minute and later in the second half he was sent off for throwing punches at Kandy players. The players from both sides were involved in heated verbal exchanges and pushes right throughout the match resulting in four Kandy players namely, Heshan Kalhara, Damith Dissanayake, Buwaneka Udangamuwa and Thilina Wijesinghe receiving yellow cards.
Despite being able to draw first blood, the Cops could only manage two tries; that too scored deep into the second half with number eight, Bilal Hasan and scrum half Sudam Parinda getting into the score sheet once again.
Kandy wing three quarter Vishwamithra Jayasinghe who came off the bench in the second half added more misery on the struggling Policemen as he sprinted past quite a few Police defenders demonstrating his pace and proving the national selectors wrong when they snubbed him for the Sri Lanka Sevens squad a weeks ago.

Arshad Jamaldeen who was given the opportunity to play at fly half justified the decision with a strong performance touching down once in the first half and making six conversions out of the seven tries in addition to the three points added through a penalty.
Flankers Suhiru Anthony and Sashika Jayawardene were the other scorers for the winners.
Meanwhile, Havelock Sports Club defeated Navy Sports Club 16-13 at Welisara to remain unbeaten in the league competition while Army registered a 37-25 victory over Air Force at Diyagama.

Such a scoreline was expected when Kandy had by half time run up a total of 46-3. For Kandy both their forwards and three quarters combined effectively to create this smashing win. In the end they ran circles around the hapless CH side that had no answers to cope up with the enormous attack carried out by the hill capital lads.

The man who created this sensational victory for Kandy was none other than their national centre Gayan Weeraratne who went onto score a hat-trick of tries running amok at the inexperience CH three quarters.

Navy beat Air Force

Navy forwards gave of a brilliant display under the leadership of ex-Navy and national captain Yoshitha Rajapaksa to cruise to a straight forward 38-8 win over Air Force at Navy grounds.

Their three quarters ran through every time they received the ball and scored, with veteran fly half Dev Anand feeding his speedy line at every given opportunity.

Second row forward ex-national player Sathya Ranatunga played a tremendous game scoring two breathtaking tries towards the end.

Havies edge out Police

Havelock’s SC was really lucky to beat the rejuvenated Police side by 28-19 after been led 13-9 at half time. They should owe this win largely to their ex-Royal College prop forward Dushmantha Priyadarshana who single-handedly brought victory to his side by scoring a try and having hand in other two tries where he sent Ganuka Dissanayaka and Sudarshana Muthuthanttri over. New fly half Samantha Lakshan had a good day with the kicks where he successfully put over despite the handicap with the wet ball.

Police who played well in patches lost the game due to their entire forwards not engaged in break downs quickly other than Billal Hassan. They were really slow arriving at the ball.

Police had a good chance of winning this game but their substitute scrum half Mohamad Afzal who had a grand game made a silly blunder where he knocked on while touching down for a try in the in-goal area.

CR and FC down Army

CR made a superb late rally where they came from behind to beat the fighting Army outfit by 35-15 after trailing 6-10 at lemons at Longden Place.

Army shocked the entire crowd present with their fierce tackling and sizzling runs. CR who did not play to their full potential got their act together in the last 18 minutes of the game thanks to their coaching staff getting the combinations right by shifting Ashan de Costa to fly half and bringing in Dilan Zoysa from the bench to operate from the base of the scrum.

Hero for CR was winger Makalanka Pramoda who scored two scintillating tries. The kicking of full back Prince Chamara was exceptional where he put over a penalty from the 50 meter mark. But the unsung hero was their young “Alfred Hensmen” like national flanker Jason Dissanayaka who single-handedly created the opportunities by punching holes at the Army defence to send Mekalanka, Dilan and Shashan over for tries.

In the field of sports the most outstanding of all was Malcolm Bulmer, who was a unique boxer that the country has produced. His record is unmatched. From the time he got into the ring he gave of his best under the guidance of the famous coach Derrick Raymond. Malcolm as a schoolboy achieved many a milestone. By the time he left school at the age of 20 he had already represented (Ceylon) Sri Lanka, at the Commonwealth Games in Perth in 1962, Olympics in Tokyo 1964 and also had beaten all the champions in his weight class in Sri Lanka and won many best boxer trophies.

In 1966 Malcolm migrated to Australia and continued his boxing and won the Australian National Championship. He was selected to represent Australia in 1968 Mexican Olympics but very unfortunate lost that opportunity. There was a rule in Australia that since he had represented another country he has to be a resident of Australia for three years to qualify.

He was short by four months. But Australian government was prepared to bear all his expenses to the Olympics and they were prepared to permit him to represent Sri Lanka because Australians thought that he was a potential gold medalist. But it was so sad as Sri Lankan authorities refused permission. What an unfortunate end to a brilliant amateur boxing career. Malcolm, a South Paw, was the best boxer produced by Derrick Raymond. Some of the other boxers Raymond produced are famous all-round sportsman Nimal Lewke now a retired DIG, who too was a stylish boxer and brought honor to the country at several meets locally and internationally and was adjudged the best boxer at national meets. The others who come to mind are: A.C.R. Herathge, M. Reyal, S.A. Azwer, H. Gunasinghe, J. Peterson N. Thirukumar.

But the first Sylvestrian to win a national boxing title was Donald G. Labrooy who won the Bantam Weight title in early 1950s. He was followed by Malcolm Marshall, Milroy de Soysa, Annabel de Soysa, M.E. Marikar John Gye. Boxing was synonymous with St. Sylvester’s which was in the forefront of schools boxing, winning the coveted Stubbs Shield several times (within fourteen years they won on 12 occasions.)

In Cricket it was in 1955 that St. Sylvester’s College made a modest beginning by playing a few inter school matches. Their first inter school match was against Vidyartha College, which is today their big match. The first team was coached by J. Denlow and Ronnie Stephen. The side was led by Tony Dirickze and the team was made up of Nihal Pelpola, T. Sathyamurthi, H. Dias, T.G.M. Peries, N. Ratnayake, Vernon Nanayakkara, V. Croos, U. Ariya Chandra, I. Heppenstol, M. Direckze, V.W. Wanigasekara, R.Tilly, and U de Silva. Then it was M.E. Marikar who became the first Sylvesterian to play representative cricket, at a time when St. Sylvester’s College had not taken to cricket in a big way. He played for Moors SC, Sinha Regiment, Kandy Sports Club, and Central Province and later for Kandy Lake Club. Nihal Samarasekara became the first to play for the country – before we got test status. Ishak Sahabdeen was the first test player.

The other cricketers who did well for the school and clubs are Nimal Lewke. A fine spinner, in 1967, he was placed second in the Schools’ Best Bowling list. He later played for the Police and Government Services. Malcolm Perera became the Sri Lanka Cricket Coaching Manager. Some of others who come to my mind are Roland Perera the present coach, David brothers – Gerard, Kingsley, Sydney and Rodney, N. Herathge, Jayatilake brothers – Rangith and Bandu, Gerry Alexander Hidelarachchi, Mervyn Rodrigo the first Silvestrian to win the ‘best outstation school boy’ award. T. Thirimane, Iqbal Haniffa, Rajarathne brothers Prasana and A.S., Sarath Basnayake, Nimal Rajakaruna, Motha brothers Quintus and Bently, Colombage brothers Edward and Ranjith, Sena L Wijesinghe, T.S. Hassan b, Michael Denlow,, T.E.Badurdeen, L.S.B.Cabral ,M.S.M.Fazal, M. Ayub, I. F.A.Nanayakkara, S.I. Premacahandra, Boyagoda brothers Ajith and Lalith, Tudor Gunaratne, Marikar’s Hilmy, Foumy and Faleel, Tikiri Kobbekaduwa, Namal Hettiarachchi, A. Kodithuwaku, J.G brothers. Thilakasiri and Udayatilake, A.S.Dange, M.Y.M.Fazleen, S.Daluwatta, T. Jayasekara, Ajith Wanasinghe, C.N.B. Rajapakse, Mervyn Perera, Anura Devapriya, C.K. Rajapakse, S.Samidon, D.J.S. Keragalle, Chnaka Wijasinghe, Ranga Dissanayake, Tharaka Jayasekara, Arosha Perera, Shiraz Ajireen, S. Gunasekara, A. Abeyasekara, Vandort brothers Duncan and Malcom, Anil Gunawardene,H.A.C Perera and Hemantha Wickramaratne.

Undoubtedly 1994 was the greatest year for St. Sylvester’s cricket. Under the present coach Roland Perera’s and late Bertie Nilagoda’s stewardship as principal. The school won the all Island League Championship but they were deprived of the ‘double,’ when they got knocked out in the semi final by Ananda College.

Football was another popular sport. From the beginning of the school, many played for the country and it was Mahinda Aluwihare who became the first Sylvestrian to lead the country In eight international games. Then there was M.P. Shabdeeen, W.M. Jawffer, R.P. Wijasiri, M.E. Marikar the first to lead the Ceylon Government services XI and he together with Leslie Weerakody played for the Combined Schools, , Newton .E.A.Perera, I.M. Saheed, Leslley Marshal, Abdul Razak, Edmun Samaraweera, Gerad David, A.H.M. jabar, Jaya Aluwihare, Tony Direckez, Percy Samaraweera, Silva brothers, Rukman,. Rajendra, Rangith and Lakshman, Lesley and Malcom Marshal, Cyril Aluwihare, Abdul Razak, Hasan Peer, Shanthi Mendis, Hector Galuge, M. Ayub, I.M. Anwer, Meera Sibo, Dean Zouril.

Then in hockey this school earned a name thanks to Coach P. Thangaveluin. In the field of hockey there are many who have made the school and the country proud. Now Rugby is one of the most popular sports. They first played rugby in 1954 and 1955, and they gave it up due to lack ground facilities and the game was reintroduced in 1982. It was Malcolm Marshal who led the side first in 1954. Then in Athletics they have produced several top sprinters who have done well in public school games and national events, and at present Darshana Rajapaksha is doing well for the school, Kandy and the country. Then also in sports like Basketball, table Tennis, Chess and Gymnastic they are doing well. The old boys give a big hand for all sports.

Marija speaking to Ceylon Today said after this final Asian Sevens leg, he will be available as a player, but not as the captain. “Now it is time to give an opportunity for an upcoming young player to take over the captaincy role,” he said.
Under his captaincy Sri Lanka’s best achievement came in 2012 by winning three plate titles and finished overall third place in 2013 at Asian Sevens Series. That was the year where Sri Lanka also got an opportunity to participate at the IRB Hong Kong Sevens in 2014 after four years.

Kandy fly half Marija (29) believed players like Sudarshana Muthuthanthri and Srinath Sooriyabandara have enough experience and qualities to handle the captaincy role. “Both played with me and they have a good knowledge about the game” said Marija.
He has once again been appointed to lead the defending league and knock out champions Kandy Sports Club for the upcoming rugby 2015 and 2016 league tournament, which is scheduled to be kicked-off from third week of November.
Marija further said did his best and also shared his knowledge with all young players to make a better team for the nation. As the captain his final wish is to reach the Cup final of the coming tournament, after Sri Lanka finished fourth in both previous legs in China and Thailand.