Maurice Perera gave a big hand for Rugby and Motor Racing

by Hafiz Marikar

Maurice Perera gave a big hand for Rugby and Motor Racing over here in Kandy. Maurice Perera, one of Kandy's versatile sportsman and a dedicated sports promoter, enjoyed that unique achievement by being a member of the first Clifford Cup final of Kandy Sports Club.

In Motor Sports, in his first appearance in Kandy Road Race, which was held round the historic Kandy Lake, emerged as overall winner in all events he participated in.

Maurice Perera started his schooling first at Hanguranketha M.V, and later was at Vidyartha College and Kingswood College before joining Trinity College.

He was outstanding forward for Trinity, he played under the leadership of Dharmasiri Madugalle.

In that year, Trinity won the Bradby 13-00 and 3-00.

These games wee refereed by D.P. Bennett and Percy Perera. In that same year, Maurice won the rugger colours along with R.M.Aluwiahe, B.G. Jacob, C.B.Niketenne, and C.S.Schokman.

As a school boy, he joined Kandy Sports Club, and was their 'prop' forward. During that time most of the players were Europeans. He played in two cup finals 1954 and 1955. The 1954 Kandy Sports Club team was made out of Maurice Perera at captain.

This cup final was played at Darawella on 14th of August.

Held many posts

The next final for Kandy Sports Club was in 1969, that year he was the coach, later he was a Committee member, Treasurer, Secretary, Vice President, two things he failed to gain at Kandy Sports Club,

is for a chance to lead the side, and also to become the President of the Club. He played for Kandy Sports Club from 1953 to 1968, was a regular prop forward for the Up-Country XV and the All Ceylon team.

His first coaching stint was with St. Anthony's College, in the mid 1950's; there were others who started as coach. But it was under Maurice's coaching that they first played inter school rugger.

He also coached Vidyartha College, and when E.W. Balasuirya introduced rugger to Kandy Lake Club. Maurice was to coach them in 1962, he also coached Old Trinity Sports Club, Kandy Youth Sports Club. Maurice also coached Trinity College, after they suffered one of their heaviest defeats 0-62 to Royal College, when he was about to take over Trinity coaching.

Most of his friends advised him not to take it up, the following year. Trinity side was a fresher laden side. He did his best and under his coaching Trinity won all the games in the fifteen-a-side and sevens. Then in `1978 under his coaching, Trinity won all the games other than the 'Bradby'.

The game spread all over

The best years of Central Province Rugby Football Union was, when Maurice was the President and he had a able Secretary Izwan Omar, they took rugby to Matale, Gampola, even to Polonnaruwa and for the first time a women's rugby team toured Thailand.

He was responsible together with Izwn Omar and formed nearly seven new clubs and played in the CPRFU tournament.

During his time, CPRFU promoted the game in a big way and rugby was the number one sport. He also developed rugby in the North Central Province on his own and had twenty two schools in the game.

Maurice Perera gave a big hand to for Central Province Rugby. As the President of the Central Province Rugby Football Union, he scored an impressive "first" by sending the first ever women's rugby team to participate in a tournament in Pataya. What was more impressive is that the team comprised girls from Matale, Anuradapura and Kandy.

Perera's most significant achievement covering the wider spectrum of rugby activity and development was the creation of seven new clubs, namely Polgolla RFC, Katugastota RFC, Pilimatalawa RFC, Matale RFC, Nuwara Eliya RFC, Mavilmada RFC and Old Antonians SC, the CPRFU, organized a separate tournament, in which Izwan Omar was the livewire and the winners were given the Maurice Perera Challenged trophy.

When he was living, he was seen at every rugger match, let it be a school or a club game he was there.

Maurice was also a top class motor racing fan and won at several meets in his "Maurice Mini" He is also one of the founder members of the Kandy Motor Sports Club and was President at one time.

He was also the President of the Up-Country Motor Sports Club and promoted motor racing in a big way.