Royal Horana needs funds to play cricket
By Leslie Fernando
CRICKET AWARD: The little known school from Horana - Royal
College has reached encouraging standards in cricket playing in division
two cricket competition this season. The school cricket team's aim is to
participate in the division one in the year 2008, coach Dumindu Hemal
and H.L.C. Jagathsiri the master-in-charge said after Horana Royal
received the Best-Up-and-coming team award at the 29th Observer Bata
Schoolboy Cricketer of the Year awards ceremony held at the BMICH on
Thursday.
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Best Up and Coming Team: Royal College, Horana: Standing (from
left): N. Rajitha, M. Damsith, T. Malith, H. Kumara, H. Batagoda,
Janka Sampath, M. Madushanka, G. Pattiarachchi. Squatting (from
left): M. Kasun, M. Maduranga, S. Waduge, P. Malith, J. Kumara. |
It was a pleasant sight to see the skipper Janaka Sampath and his
under-19 team of Royal College, Horana dressed in immaculate white long
trousers and sporting dark blue blazers march up to the stage to receive
their award.
The team got a rousing reception from the large audience present at
the awards ceremony.
Hemal and Jagathsiri said that the school first started playing
cricket in 2001 in the under-13, under-15 and under-19 division three.
The school team was promoted to division two for their fine performances
in 2005.
First it was difficult to find the finances. "We collected money from
bookmarks and stickers. The parents of the players and Baduraliya SC
also a lent a big helping hand for cricket." - the two officials said.
With the intervention of Baduraliya SC, the school was able to maintain
the grounds and also receive materials and equipment and the school is
indeed grateful to the club. It should be mentioned that Royal College,
Horana team represents Baduraliya SC in the under-23 Premier League
cricket tournament conducted by Sri Lanka Cricket.
The school recorded 9 outright victories in inter-school cricket this
season and Janaka Sampath, the skipper of the team is the 'star' having
won the Best Batsman award and selected as the runner-up Schoolboy
Cricketer of the Year Outstation 2007.
Our school is the best in Horana and became champions at the Kalutara
District cricket tournament and won the Prime Minister's Trophy last
year. Our main hope is to play with school teams from Colombo District,
to improve our standard," said coach - Hemal.
The school is indebted to Baduraliya SC for cricket and all
facilities that has enabled them to play cricket. Funds are required and
the school authorities hope that some good samaritan will come to
support the school in their cricket activities. |
