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Antonian rugby twins join select band
By Bernie Wijesekera
St. Anthony College, Katugastota has many firsts on and off the field. It may be for the first time in the history Kaugastota school sports that twins Suranga Pathum and Eranga Rusiru Swaranathilaka have played for the school rugby team together.
From their childhood the twins were nursed and given all encouragement by their parents to indulge in sports.

Firstly it was in swimming that they made the mark at the age of nine, and created many firsts in aqua sports. Then the twins broke new ground - in the rugby field as juveniles. The elder brother Suranga Pathum led the school to emerge champions in the Milo Trophy Junior Championship in 1997. There was no looking back since then. Today rugby football is their first love.

Both are versatile sportsmen in the history of Antonian sports. They excelled in field sports - discus, shot-putt and the javelin throw. St. Anthony's had brothers who made the mark in cricket - the Doranagamas Saliya and Ranjit, Charlie and Michael Joseph and L.V. and Priyantha Ekanayake in (rugby) Bernard and Bede Perera etc. The twins may be the first to play rugby together. In 1997 they played in the Under-13 junior cricket team which won the Horlicks Trophy.

Strongly built Suranga and Eranga have the physical strength and could be tagged as 'iron men'. They have been playing rugby for five years in the first XV and has maintained its rich traditions.

Suranga, the elder brother said that they owe much of their success, be it rugby or otherwise to their parents, who are a source of insiparation to them. At grassroots level, it was Mr. Faisal and Nihal Ananda, the former Sri Lanka player who taught them the skills. At present their coach, the soft-spoken Priyantha Gunaratne was on the ball to improve their skills further. Incidentally the schools rugby committee is giving all support to the sqad headed by C.P.P. Raj. Roshan Yaseen, a die-hard old Antonian is supporting the school's sport activities with men and material. Both are in the junior national squad.

S.Thomas' Mt. Lavinia too had a pair of twins playing rugby - the Goonetillekes, Jeevan and Jayan who excelled in rugby. At present they are playing club rugby.

Noel Jansz felicitated
After nearly 20 years of dedicated service, Mr Noel Jansz was felicitated as cricket coach of St Anthony's College, Wattala. at Kalyani Mawatha recently. He was presented with a plaque, a cash gift and two bats signed by the players.

Mr Jansz worked at Glaxo Ceylon Ltd. His dedication can be seen in his coaching style. He has always believed in the benefit of discipline for coaching. This is the basis, he feels, for a strong and able team. His results have been excellent. International favourite and star of Sri Lanka's recent World Cup campaign, Chaminda Vaas was coached by Mr Jansz at a junior level.

Other players coached by him include Manjula Moonasingha, who represented Sri Lanka, Upal Fernando, who played for Sri Lanka Youth team, Ravi Karunanayaka (Best Fielder, 1983 Bata Observer), Ajith Alexander (runner-up, Best Bowler 1983) and Emil Diaz (runner-up as Most Popular Schoolboy Crickter 1985).

Rugby Super Six
Sri Lanka Club Rugby is firmly back with a bang as the top six clubs now head for the "Caltex" League Cup in five weeks. Kandy have maintained their undefeated record this season with some clinical performances against all-comers, only Army & CR tested the lions but could not outclass them.

Second in the super six table is CH & FC, whose courage against Army last week won the hearts of all rugby fans irrespective of club loyalties - lying 28 / 5 at half time, their team effort and fitness out gunning and out witting the solid Army outfit, for a gut-wrenching finish with the last kick of the game, which left the crowd stunned CH & FC 29, Army 28

Round two starts Saturday and will be the perfect showcase of all the skills and effort that the teams have to display for their fans, diehard supporters and curious new comers alike. With the SLRFU decision to invest in "Live" telecast, the enthusiasm and interest has grown since May 2003 with highlights also available on ITN during the week. The Union is very pleased at the response to the Saturday "Live" slot & excited at the possibility of more spectators filling the Club premises at weekends.. (R.M)

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