Embilipitiya lads stun Thurstan

While a group of boys from Embilipitiya MMV slept at that temple in Delkanda on Friday night, would any of them have dreamt that they would defeat an A Division school with a rich history of rugby the very next day, many would answer with loud – no! But that is exactly what this group of boys did as they defeated Thurstan by five points to nil in their very first outing in an A Division tournament.

Embilitiya’s win was the highlight of the first day’s proceedings in the all island inter-school under 18 ten a side rugby tournament which got under way at The Royal College Sports Complex yesterday. Incidentally Embilipitiya lost their second game to D. S. Senanayake Colombo by 15 points to 7. Thus they will play for the Plate Trophy where they will first meet Dharmarajah.

Speaking to The Sunday Times the master-in-charge and coach of Embilipitiya MMV Saman Gamage said: “We have grass for only two months of the year. Thus we have to practice on a flat hard surface. We train at the Mahaweli grounds, but do not play contact rugby as such. We just do fitness training and simulate match situations. This is because we do not have a gymnasium, scrum bags and things like that. Personally I hail from Matara Central and did not play rugby. I attended quite few seminars conducted by the Sri Lanka rugby Football Union. And it is from these coaching clinics that I learnt the game.”

Captain of the team and year 11 student Krishan Sampath lamented about the lack of a proper ground. He added: “There are a lot of things we do not have. We have only a few sets of boots which we share amongst ourselves. We do not have shin guards, mouth guards and scrum caps to name a few. But we do have is a lot of determination and team spirit. Since this was our first top division outing we were eager to do well. And that I think is how we overcame our first hurdle.”

Vice Captain of Embilitiya MMV Lakmal Wijeyanga pointed to his torn t-shirt and said: “We have only one set of jerseys. It is not an easy life. Most of the guys walk to school. We practice three days of the week. Training includes two hours in the morning and three in the evening. After getting home, I study for about three hours and then help my father to water our plantain cultivation. This is the routine for most of the guys in our team.”

Secretary of the Sabaragamuwa Rugby Association, K. S. P. Karunaratne said: “It was former Sri Lankan stalwart Arjun Dharmadasa who got game going in this district. The parents of most these boys have never seen a game of rugby. In addition to the lack of facilities, nutrition is also a big problem. Some boys come for practices on an empty stomach. Others just bring some kenda and share with the others. Over the years we have produced quite few exceptional ruggerites. And it would a worthy cause if somebody could come forward to sponsor this school. The reward would obvious three to four years down the road.”

The tournament continues today with quarter final line up for the Cup, Plate and Bowl being as follows. And without doubt the most interesting game sees Isipatana taking on Kingswood.

Cup: Isipatana – Kingswood, Royal Colombo – Science, D.Thomas’ Mount Lavinia – D. S. Senanayake Colombo and Prince of Wales – Trinity.

Plate: Nalanda – Mahanama, Piliyandala MMV – Zahira, Dharmarajah – Embilipitiya MMV and Ananda – St. Joseph’s Colombo.
Bowl: Royal Panadura – Asoka Colombo, Lumbini – Maliyadeva, Wesley – Thurstan and C.W.W. Kannangara MMV – Dharmapala Pannipitiya.