The dream team from Lake View
Last year around this time of the year, the first XV rugby team of Dharmaraja College Kandy were in seventh heaven after winning the Singer Schools Under-20 Division I ‘B’ Rugby League Championship. Twelve moons on, it would be only fair to place them on cloud nine for achieving something extraordinary in the history of school rugby. Despite ugly incidents which came at a record high level than previous school rugby seasons, Dharmaraja continued their rough journey to maintain an unbeaten record and thus win the Singer Schools Under-20 Division I ‘A’ League Rugby League Championship in style.
The victorious Dharmaraja first XV team with their medals and Schools championship trophy. - Pix by Amila Gamage
Dharmaraja’s achievement, to win the Schools League title soon after winning second tier title a season earlier is a first in Sri Lankan schools’ rugby, a record that will probably not be achieved or broken in the near future.
The ‘Rajans’ as they are fondly known by the fraternity close to them, did not have everything served on a silver platter. According to Saliya Alexander, their master-in-charge of seven seasons, it was discipline; dedication and desire that helped them achieve the unthinkable.
“The road was tough to be honest. Our genuine aim was to reach the top four of the group and with the approach of our coach Radhika Hettiarachchi, that target looked achievable. Radhika introduced a motto into the side which said, ‘Put your heads down, act like you don’t know the game. Play the game with your heart and show that we are kings’. That was an adage that went straight into the hearts of the boys and they have proved it by winning the championship,” Alexander pompously stated.
Dharmaraja skipper Rochana Hettiarachchi holds the Singer League Trophy aloft
Last season after clinching the Division I ‘B’ title, Dharmaraja lost the services of seven top performers. With that exodus, the officials have had never even in their dreams had hoped that they would be able to claim another silverware within a year. The Rajans have had a few well committed characters, namely skipper Rochana Hettiarachchi, Buvaneka Udangamuwa and Thilina Wijesinghe who took responsibilities upon their shoulders. Other than that they looked to be an average side among nine other teams in the group.
In addition to the existing experienced players, a total newcomer, Viraj Weerasekera who is still 16 years of age, joined the side, only to prove his worth. The rest of the players have been together as a unit when Dharmaraja won the Under-18 Division I title in 2010 and when they first clinched the All-Island Schools Sevens Championship in 2012.
With the far-sighted plans of the coaching staff spearheaded by Radhika Hettiarachchi, Viraj, also a footballer, too became a fitting player. The three most experience players, Rochana, Buvaneka and Thilina, proved to be the most aspiring players for the Rajans eventually. From the trio, Rochana, a flyhalf and Thilina, the fullback who also did the kicking duties, were the playmakers. Rochana, who gave up cricket for rugby, was always omnipresent where the ball was and was keen in initiating the next move. Thilina, who is also a football player at junior national level, had contributed with a tally of 93 points through 27 conversions and 13 penalties from his boots. The rest of the team rallied behind the experienced to justify the school’s capability in the rugby field as they grabbed their first major title after 43 years since the game was introduced to the school.
At the end of the season, the Rajans finished with seven wins and two draws, which came in their season opener against Trinity College and against Royal College in the closing match played on Friday. Eventually they managed to extend their unbeaten record for yet another year, having experienced a loss for the final time during the 2011 school rugby season.
“We had the services of a well dedicated coaching staff. In addition to Radhika, who had helped us to many previous occasions, our weight trainer Herath did a splendid job. They boys’ dedication and commitment were second to none. Though the boys look hefty and vigorous they are a sensitive lot, and all of them have a very good educational background. There are even five vegetarians in the team and I can proudly state that Dharmaraja never in this season gave nutritional supplements to our boys. All we took were natural food like rice, gram and cassava. Our boys were naturally fit and end of the day we can proudly say that we achieved beyond what we aimed,” Alexander added.
After a fitting game against Royal played at the Royal Sports Complex in Colombo where the outcome read as 17-all, the Dharmaraja first XV team was presented with the Singer Schools Under-20 Rugby League Division I ‘A’ Championship trophy and medals, in front of a huge delighted clan of supporters. Alexander, a Grade I qualified football referee and a Grade C football coach, also paid gratitude to the strong support from the Dharmaraja principal H.M. Keerthiratne, the academic staff, the parents, old boys and the Old Rajans Rugby fraternity for the immense assistance rendered.
The Squad
Props: Pasan Bandara, Dulaksha Weerakoon, Charinda Kalinga.
Hooker: Gihan Jayasingha, Dulantha Hiyarapitiya.
Locks: Vihanga Nawalage, Hasmitha Karunatilleke, Amila Weerakoon.
Flankers: Thilina Sampath, Janaka Wijesinghe.
No.8: Lochana Fernando.
Scrum half: Ishanka Wimalasuriya, Hashan Pilapitiya.
Fly half: Rochana Hettiarachchi (Capt).
Centres: Bhuvaneka Udangamuwa, Dilantha Madushanka, Lahiru Hettiarachchige.
Wingers: Pradeep Tharindu, Manushaka Kumara, Viraj Weerasekera,
Fullback: Thilina Wijesinghe.
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