How did Kandy schools fare in rugby this season

At club level Kandy SC continues to bull-doze and dominate. But looking back on the schools rugby season, the picture wasn’t all that rosy. The Peterites carried far too many guns for the three ‘A’ group teams in Kandy.

It has been Kingswood that has carried the flag for Kandy in recent years. But losses to Isipathana (0-6) in a shortened game, to Trinity (18-23) and to St Peters (7-14) would suggest that their fortunes have nose-dived. One of the plus-points was a 48-7 bashing of the Thomians. Kingswoods early efforts were mixed in controversy and then came that infamous assault. It could be that these off-field incidents had an unsetting effect on the team and that the players were not able to prepare and play in a trouble-free environment. Kingswood, as well as the other schools, would do well to restrain their over-ardent supporters.

Stand out players: Skipper Thlina Manoj, Gayan Weeraratne (Centres), Roshan Weeraratne (Scurm half) lock Mohamed Irsham

Antonian coach Nihal Guneratne calls his team’s season “satisfying, through not 100 percent.” They were thrashed 3-33 by the Peterites in their season – opener and later on 19-29 by Kingswood. They beat the Thomians 32-0, Thurstan 50-6 and Royal 29-12, while edging out the Trinitians 14-13 in a drab game.

Even in winning games they conceded quite a few points to their opponents. This would imply that their attacking potential outstripped their defensive powers.

Stand-out players: Kusal Rankoth (Capt) Roshan Wijesiri, Sashika Jayawardena (number 8 ), Linkman Imad Reyal, Centre Amila Weligampola.

The potential was there, but what happened to its realization? That is the unfortunate fate of Trinity’s rugger this season. Some of the games were very close and could have gone the other way. The Anthonians beat them (14-13), the Thomians (19-15) Royal (15-11) and so on and so forth.

Matters were not helped by skipper Sean Wanigasekeras knee injury that stayed with him to the season’s end. A daring and dynamic player the season before, Sean was reduced, sadly, to a hobbling wreck. Full back Krishan Kirinde and fly half Kenneth Jacobs were two disappointments.

Both legs of the Bradby were lost, though not by huge margins. An early defeat by the Thomians was hard to take. The high-point for them came when a team with quite a few new faces laid Kingswood low, beating them 23-18. This upped the tempo and created a surge of enthusiasm that they could win the first leg on home territory. But alas for “the best laid plans of mice and men!”

Stand out players: Prop Mahen Wickramasiri, Jazeer Hassan ( number eight).

All nine tournament games won and promotion earned to the big league next year. But coach Nilufer Ibrahim (who seems to be a hard task-master) calls the Rajan performance "not upto expectations” and says "they can do better.” They beat Vidyartha who ran them closest in the points table very comprehensively, apart from recording wins over Prince of Wales, Zahira, St Sylvesters, Carey, St Aloysius Galle, Science College, St. Joseph’s and Mahanama. The negative factor was a sound thrashing at the bands of their rivals Kingswood in a non tournament game.

Stand out players: Full back Akila Hettiarachchi (number eight), Roshan Gunatunga, centre Malinga Godigamuwa, Prop. Dilanka Gunatilleka.

St. Sylvester’s

The Sylvestrians, coached by youngster Chandika Silva, finished third in the B group, losing to Dharmaraja and Vidyartha, but beating all the other eight schools – Ananda (8-5) St Josephs (17-5) Science College (21-10), Mahanama (13-5), Zahira (24-3), Carey (48-3), Prince of Wales (20-16) and St. Aloysius (36-6). The Sylvestrians are keeping their fingers crossed and awaiting the outcome of their protest. If it is upheld, they could be playing in the premier group next season.

Stand out players: Manjula Rajakaruna (Captain and Centre), D.B. Dissanayake (number eight), Bhagya Jayatilleka (fly half) Asanga Perera (full back).

Vidyartha, coached by referee Piyal Navaratne, had a tremendous season, with just one loss. That too came against the table leaders Dharmarajah. Tha back division was penetratingly impressive and was responsible for many of the tries scored. Thay ran up scored of over thirty points every time they won. The high points being a massive 61-5 and 79-10 wins against Prince of Wales and Zahira respectively. Carey and St. Aloysius did not honour their fixtures against Vidyartha.

Stand-out players: Buddika Abeysinghe ( captain and No.8), Amitha Perera and Madushan Hapugaskumbura (Centres), Vijira Harshana (winger) and Manjula Wijeratne (Flanker)