Sports

Sports

Seeking that resurgence pill
Trinity's ruggerites are paying a heavy price for having skipped the school's tournament a few years back. On return, they were compelled to start at the bottom and have now worked their way up (without a sweat, it must be added) to the 'C' Division.

The saving grace for the school has been the fact that their traditional opponents - Royal, St. Thomas’, St. Anthony's, St. Peter's and Isipathana - have continued to play against them. This is something that some other 'A' and 'B' division teams can't boast of.

Trinity's rugby has certainly came down a few pegs in recent times. The Sahayams, Vanlangenbergs, Jayawardenas, Howies and Balasuriyas of the sixties and seventies will have to scan the horizon quite a bit to identify their present -day look alikes.

The task of dressing -up the school's rugby has fallen on former Kandy SC and up- country skipper Anil Jayasinghe, who is also one of Sri Lanka's leading referees.

The presence of a Technical Advisor with outstanding credentials in Nigel Krone should undoubtedly lessen Anil's load. Krone, a western Samoan, migrated to New Zealand at the age of 14. Most of his rugby was played in Samoa, while he has coached extensively in New Zealand. For good measure, he has also conducted a coaching clinic Down Under. Having seen plenty of videos of schools rugby, Krone is impressed with the standard of play. He says his players' work hard and he has no problems in relating to them.

Trinity is fortunate in having about ten of last season's players. Furthermore, most of the Under-17 champion side of 2004 is available. Consequently the outlook is good and the coach feels that his charges will do better than last year's team.

Centre BNR Fernando skippers the Lions and playing along side him will be Ranga Ranatunga. Mendis and nippy Niroshan Sanjeeva will be out on the wings with DL Jayawardena to man the last line of defence.

Suranga Pushpakumara (ex Vidyartha), a bundle of energy, will form the halves combination with Y. Ching. Wilson and Kulasinghe will bind in the front row with hooker Perera, while S. Ching and D. Aluvihare will be the flankers. Imalka Maddumapatabendi will occupy the berth left vacant by brother, and last year's captain, Migara.

Pressed to comment on which is the more potent force - the forwards or the backs - coach Jayasinghe felt that they were both pretty much the same. He was hopeful of involving everybody.

Having tasted defeat in the last four Bradby's, all Trinity's efforts will be directed at retaking the elusive shield. For sure, Warun Wijewardena's boys are not going to offer it on a platter. Trinity will certainly be working to the end.

The migratory season is on and some sportsmen from a lesser-known school in the hills seem to have crossed over to more prestigious schools. Their former school, which has made some kind of a name in sports, has been left high and dry.

The Ministry prohibits changing from one National school to another. The ruse adopted by these 'A' Level students is to opt to do languages in the 'A' Level class.

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