LP Rayen: Finest all-round product of St Benedict’s | Sunday Observer
Sri Lanka’s Best from the Past:

LP Rayen: Finest all-round product of St Benedict’s

5 June, 2022

Lovellyn P Rayen was one of the best all round sportsmen produced by St. Benedict’s College, Kotahena, captaining hockey and cricket teams in 1956 and 1957 respectively, plus representing the College in soccer, basketball, table tennis and athletics.

On leaving College, he joined the Tamil Union C&AC to further his prowess in hockey and cricket. His tenure ended in 1963 when he moved on to be one of the founders of the Old Bens hockey team which he captained in 1963 and 1974 with success.

When the Old Bens dominated the club scene from the mid sixties to mid seventies, he was greatly instrumental for their outstanding success. A brilliant right extreme, he was an automatic choice for this vital position throughout his outstanding career.

His record speaks for itself and his brilliant performance during the famous 1960 (Jan/Feb) tour to North India where we were ranked among the best 10 teams in the world is worth mentioning as stated by the Indian media.

LOVELLYN P. RAYEN (born 1937)

Position: Right extreme
Clubs: Old Bens SC, Colombo and Mercantile HA

1958 vs Madras HA

1960 Tour of North India (Jan/Feb)
1960 Tour of North India (Jan/Feb)

1960 vs Indian Olympic team (2 Tests)

1960 vs New Zealand
1961 vs Indian Wanderers

1962 Tour of Singapore and Malaysia
1962 Asian Games, Djakarta

1962 vs Pakistan (3 Tests)

1963 vs Mysore HA
1963 vs Madras HA

1964 vs Great Britain (2 Tests)

Wijekoon: A consistent goal scorer

Though Douglas Wijekoon’s career was short, he was a brilliant left inside and a very penetrating forward who scored many a goal for his association and Ceylon.

He represented Matale HA at the National Hockey Championships in 1957, where they were runners-up to Mercantile HA. Joining Lever Brothers in 1950, he represented Mercantile HA in 1958, where they were runners-up to the Government Services, was in the 1959 winning team, and 1960 and 1963 runner-up teams.

His international career was playing against the world’s best players, against reigning Olympic champions India in a 2-Test series in 1960 and world champions Pakistan in 1962.

Before that it was when he toured North India with the Ceylon team in 1960 (Jan/Feb), where Ceylon was ranked between 6th /10th position in the world. The Indian press highlighted his tireless and spirited performance as he was a consistent goal scorer.

DOUGLAS WIJEKOON (born 1937)

Position: Left inside
Clubs: Havelock SC, Matale, Colombo and Mercantile HA

1958 vs Madras HA
1960 vs Indian Olympic team (2 Tests)

1960 vs New Zealand

1960 Tour of North India (Jan/Feb)
1962 vs Pakistan

Dazzling Somasekeran

At the very first Hockey Nationals held in 1956, thousands witnessed a diminutive teenager RS Somasekeran dazzle the knowledgeable spectators with artistic stick work and body swerves to fox Ceylon’s best defenders, V.S. de Kretser, Tony Adahan (backs), Hugh Aldons and Ivan de Kretser among others, to score a brilliant hat trick.

Finding employment at Commercial Company Limited, he represented the Mercantile HA for 11 years, captaining the 1963 team who were runners-up to the Government Services. He played in eight finals, equally winning and being runners-up.

Being on these tours as a player, it was a travesty of justice that he was not selected for Ceylon’s 1959 tour of Madras and 1960 (Jan/Feb) historic tour of North India. However, in 1960 (Dec), he was selected to tour Madras and Bangalore.

Just before this tour he played against the reigning Olympic champions in 1960 and also New Zealand.

In 1962, he played against Pakistan in both Test matches and ended his short but brilliant career at the 1962 Asian Games.

RS SOMASEKERAN (born 1937)

Position: Left inside
Clubs: Tamil Union, CR&FC, Matale, Colombo and Mercantile HA

1960 vs Indian Olympic team
1960 vs New Zealand

1960 Tour of Madras and Mysore (Dec)

1962 vs Pakistan (2 Tests)

1962 Asian Games, Djakarta
1962 Tour of Singapore and Malaysia

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