- Inter-Club Rugby League – week-6
We are at the halfway mark of the 2024/25 Inter-Club Rugby League-Round 1. Five weeks of many dull and a handful of exciting games have concluded with perennial rivals Kandy and CR remaining unbeaten. Two teams came very close to upset the applecart last week with Navy missing out on securing their first win in two seasons after a nail-biting 23-20 loss to Police, whilst Air Force gave a torrid time for CR at Ratmalana. CH came back to winning ways in a tight game against Army and Havies ran circles around Sri Lions at Park Road. Tomorrow (18) at Colombo Racecourse, an iconic rivalry which was a major crowd puller in the good old days will come to life. Let’s have a look at it.
Maitland Derby: Down the memory lane
The rivalry between the Gymkhana Club and the Red Shirts dates back to a century where both the clubs from Colombo 7 have produced some of the finest gentlemen in the oval ball game.
Dubbed the ‘Maitland Derby’, this century old historic rivalry is now played for the ‘Hadji Omar Trophy’ in honour of the life and legacy of a great stalwart of Sri Lankan Rugby who passed away in June 2009. Nizam Hadji Omar played for St. Peter’s College in 1962/63 and played for the Longdon Place club CR&FC from 1964-1974 as the most feared loose-head prop forward in the island nation. Hadji captained Sri Lanka in 1969 (considered as probably one of the youngest to captain the country) before captaining CR (1970) and was the captain when Sri Lanka first played in an Asiad (1969/1970).
Hadji Omar was the youngest President of CR & FC, at the age of 36 and at 38, he was the youngest President of the Sri Lanka Rugby Football Union (SLRFU). He also was the Manager of the Bowl Champion Lankan team led by legendary Hisham Abdeen at the Hong Kong Sevens’ in 1984, which to date is considered as one the greatest achievements in Sri Lanka rugby. He was a National Selector and Chairman of the National Selection Committee on numerous occasions.
Battle of the Gurus
Martis-Lewke battle will be something to watch as the off the field battle in the dugout between the veteran Sanath Martis and his once understudy Dushanth Lewke has always been an epic rivalry when it comes to both club and schools rugby arena. The two coaches will definitely bring in their A-game in this keenly fought battle which has always produced its fair share of thrills and spills.
Last Meeting
11.02.2024 @Racecourse - CR beat CH 32-12
29.12.2023 @Longdon Place - CR beat CH 28-23
Previous winners -
2014/15 - CR (33-15)
2015/16 - CR (45-07
2016/17 - CR (1st : 83-13, 2nd : 62-03)
2017/18 - CH (1st : 19-12, 2nd : 25-24)
2018/19 - CH (1st : 23-24-CR, 2nd : 33-10)
2019/20 - CR (23-17)
2021/22 - CR (27-22)
2022/23 - CR (27-19)
2023/24 - CR (1st : 28-23, 2nd : 32-12)
Inter-Club League 2024/25, Week-5
Results:
Police 23-20 Navy
Havelocks 43-13 Sri Lions
CH&FC 19-17 Army
CR&FC 27-16 Air Force
Women’s League - Sri Lions 34-17 Havelocks
This week’s fixtures (week-6) - kick off - 4 p.m.
17 Jan. – Army SC. vs. Havelocks @Panagoda
18 Jan. – Air Force vs. Police SC @Ratmalana
18 Jan. – CH & FC vs. CR & FC @Racecourse
19 Jan. – Kandy SC vs. Navy SC @Nittawela
(Courtesy - Romario de Silva/Thepapare)