An impressive outfit which is strong in both flanks
The Thomians are back, with full grit - Pix by Nilan Maligaspe
After many years, the school by the sea, has produced quite an impressive outfit. The heavy set of forwards possessing mobility is blending well with their three quarters. The black and blue brigade led by hooker Pandula de Silva, a fourth year coloursman, is leading the team from the front. He is ably assisted by his deputy Malinda Deshapriya, the prop forward.
The present Thomian team under the hawk eyed supervision of Tavita Tulagese, the head coach- fondly known as ‘Laga’ by the local rugby fraternity. He has molded the team to be a champion outfit, and they have displayed it in the first round itself , by clinching matches after coming from behind. The games against Royal and Trinity are good instances. A special mention should be made of assistant coach- Dinesh Kumar, who has taken special care on fitness of Thomian ruggerites.
Of the present Thomian outfit, cynosure of all eyes is play maker -Naveen Henkankanamge, the wing three who has scored the highest number of tries, in schools top division rugby so far. Henakanamge is a player with genuine pace. Ashvantha Herath, the inside center is a game changer. Herath, throughout the season has shown his prowess in attack and defence. His co-center Sharith Nanayakkara, has performed when it matters. The drop goal by him against Trinity at Pallekale, was the decisive factor to wrap up the game. Bhumindra Dissanayake, the fly-half , may be not the best in schools, but he is a daring agile player with a quick side step that sends his opposing player on wrong foot. The players such Dion Dias in the wing, and Mayon Jayawardena, reliable full back also have impressed in their play.
Of the Thomian ‘eight’ apart from skipper and his deputy, a special note should be made of players such as Tehan Perera (Prop),Wayne Mack (Lock), Dhanuja Wijeratne (Lock) Sachithra Jayathilake (number eight)and the flanker Christian Delile. Mack and Delile have excelled in their loose play. Jayathilake, is an impact player, and a battering ram of the side.
The present Thomian outfit is campaigning to bring back lost glory. They indeed had a good out fit in 2013, led by fly half Devin Jayasinghe but at that time they were placed in the schools division 2. Before that teams under Shaveen Kapuwatte in 2009 and Rajindra Gunasekara in 2010,were indeed very good teams.
Though S. Thomas’ took up the oval shape ball game in 1951, they played the likes of Trinity, Royal and St.Peters, schools with a long rugby tradition behind them in only year 1955. Since then they have produced unbeaten sides in 1963 under Mohan Samarasinghe,1970 under U.Weerasinghe and then in 1976 under Stefan de Silva.
Pandula de Silva (Capt)
But the rugby at S.Thomas’ was revived and took a great leap forward during late Mr. Quentin Israel was at the helm. The Mt. Lavinia school, started to dominate in schools rugby arena from years 1988 to 1994.They clinched the league and Premadasa knock out trophy in years 1989 under Rizvie Suhayb, 1990 under Narein Perera and 1991 under Charya de Saram. In 1994, under Nalin Wijegunawardena, Thomians clinched the first Presidents trophy on offer, by beating St.Peters in the knock out final. The black and blue brigade had invincible teams in that era.
In the current season, Thomians regained the Lady Jayathilake shield by beating St. Joseph’s 32-3. Next they defeated D.S.Senanayake 40-6. Then they were tested to the limits by a Royal side. But at the end, they came from behind 14-15 to clinch the game 21-15 at death to regain the Michael Guneratne shield. Then in Pallekale, they encountered one of the toughest games. After trailing 3-15, again they clinched the game 23-20 at the end to regain the Canon de Saram shield. Finally they overcame a spirited Wesley outfit 19-0, to retain the Sir Oliver Gunathilake shield under heavy downpour.
In the second round for the Cup championships commencing in end May, Thomians, are well geared to face the likes of Isipathana, Science and St. Peter’s.
Malinda Deshapriya (VC)