Defending champions Seylan Bank suffers a shock defeat

by Lal Gunesekera

RUGBY: - Defending champions Seylan Bank suffered a humiliating 12-14 defeat at the hands of MAS Group 'A' in the 37th Mercantile Seven-A-Side Rugby Championship at Longden Place yesterday sponsored by Dialog TV.

However, Seylan Bank entered the "quarters" of the Cup Category after beating Emjay 26-7 and receiving a walk-over from Hirdaramani 'A' and are billed to take on Amana Takaful 'A' in one game. In the other three games of the Cup Category, MAS Group 'A' take on Sampath Bank, Emjay International clash with John Keells Group 'A', while Commercial Bank take on Ceylinco Group 'A'. These games start at 10.45 a.m.

Powerscan registered the biggest win defeating Standard Chartered Bank 52-0, while the other easy wins were by Suntel beating NDB Bank 33-0, Ceylinco 'B' defeating SriLankan Airlines 33-0, Sri Lanka Insurance overcoming Forbes and Walker 35-0 and John Keells 'A' beating Amana Takaful 'A' 33-7.

The line-up for the Bowl "quarters" starting at 11.45 a.m. are MCB Bank vs Dialog 'A', Ceylinco Group 'B' vs HSBC Data Processing, Lanka Bell vs MAS Group 'C' and Powerscan vs Hirdaramani 'B'. The line-up for the Shield "Quarters" starting at 9.30 a.m. are Metropolitan Group vs Virtusa, Pan Asia Bank vs Dialog 'B', Suntel vs Browns Group and Sri Lanka Insurance vs Hirdramani 'C'.