Double Blue, a force to reckon with this season
Zayan Sabar - Captain
Wesley College, this season so far in their respective group segment 1A, in schools top division rugby, has proved they can really topple any good team. They posses set of hardy forwards, and a back division that has put up a solid defence. But this young team’s only drawback is lacking in finish. They opened up the season with a solid performance meeting Trinity at Pallekale. Wesley surprising the Trinity camp, they led the game most of the time, but due to mistakes, Trinity came from behind to snatch the game 7-5. Then against Royal, it was another close encounter.
Wesley failed with a golden opportunity to beat the Royalists. Finally Royal scraped through to win 17-14. Wesley was very unfortunate to lose these two encounters. In the next two games, Wesley came on top by beating St. Josephs and D.S. Senanayake by 19-10 and 64-12 respectively.
Now they are almost to the second round –playing in the cup championship. At the time of this article going to press, Wesley was to play the group leaders, S.Thomas’ at Havelock Park yesterday. It will be a close encounter, again a thriller on the cards. Wesley has a proud rugby history. They took up the oval shape ball game in 1956, playing against established schools such as Trinity, Royal, Zahira and St.Peter’s in the same year. Then later against St. Joseph’s and S. Thomas’. But the moment of glory was beating Trinity for the first time, after 46 years in 2002. The team led by Lahiru Botheju, was a cracking outfit. They beat Trinity at Longdon Place 21-0. In the following year Wesley beat Royal for the first time. Rugby at Wesley has come a long way.
Denister Goonethilake - Vice Captain
The most cherished moment in their rugby history was clinching the Milo President trophy in 2013, by beating Trinity in the finals 34 points to 21. Rahul de Silva led the cracking Wesley outfit of 2013. This season, the Doubles Blues are led by Zayan Sabar, the experienced prop forward, a third year coloursman. He can also operate from the position of hooker and number eight. The previous year skipper Omar Kuthubdeen, is also in the Wesley starting lineup, manning the last line of defence. Denister Gunathilake, the double blue vice captain, mans one center position and he is an important cog in their defence. Jeevan Gunathilake, the Wesley head coach, should be commended for putting up a fighting outfit and a side that posses the best defence in schools rugby so far in the season. Jeevan stated: “We were very unlucky to lose both matches to Trinity and Royal. They were very close ones. We have learn’t the mistakes and the team will give an improved performance in coming matches”.
Skipper Sabar stated: “We had up and downs in the season. But we are improving in each game”.
Wesley assistant coach is Dennis Amal, who has done a tremendous job by taking the charge of fitness, of the double blues.
The master in charge of Wesley rugby is Wimal Bandara.
Wesley First XV rugby squad 2016:
Prop: Zayan Sabar (Captain),Vimu Gamage, Shenol Fernando, Imdad Mowlana, Dumindu Bandara.
Hooker: Shamail Amit, Seshan Jayawardena, Zain Dole, Tharindu Hasith.
Second Rows: Imesh Chathuranga, Kavindu Sankalpa, Vishwa Wettasinghe.
Flankers: Asanka Hashan, Thimira Amanda, Oshan Devinda, Mohammed Shibly,T. Sritheysh, Hasindu Fernando.
No.8: Daiyan Sabar , Sashika Ashan.
Scrum Half: Avishka Lee, Taariq Jurangpathy.
Stand Off: Rajitha Silva, Murshid Zubair, Tharindu Hemal.
Centres: Denister Goonethilake (Vice captain), Asantha Hashan, Awantha Lee.
Wingers: Dineru Ranaweera, Awantha Hashan, Shakib Hisham, Luqmaan Ahamath.
Full Back: Omar Kuthubdeen, Dayan Bahardeen. - NK
Wesley rugby squad for 2016 - Pix by Amila Gamage