Former students’ o f St. Joseph’s College whose string of attachment was rugby met and formed to a reunion group called “Hornets”. They launched themselves with flair and passion, to support Joes Rugby. The promise is to be the engine that will drive Joes to the highest level to become a leading Rugby playing school in Group “A”. “Hornets” is the same name used by a team of young Joe rugby enthusiasts in the early 50’s, when SJC started to play Rugby in an unofficial capacity. It is about the heritage, history and about building for the future- at ‘A’ division, with a hope of “Never again in ‘B’ division”. Words of wisdom and expectation as schools ill equipped continue to clamor to stay in ‘A’ when continuously it has been up and down with counts that should adorn a cricket score board.
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The Buzz word today is “High Performance Coach “. This is about creating an environment where the passion to prepare, will be greater than the potential or talent to perform”. High Performance Organizations, Teams in the business world prepare to stay on top as in sport. Probably, I may discuss it more next week.
Following the meeting of the “Hornets” I had the pleasant surprise of being asked to come for a reunion of a few achievers at St. Josephs’ College. All present achieved a lot in the period 1966 to 1969. It was Cricket, Soccer, Athletics and Rugby that held sway. A group whose passion to perform was the centre of achievement in what they did. Attitude was important than the grumbling and pampered society of sport we live in.
It was surprising to me when I was told that we will meet at the residence of Tuan Kitchell . I had not met him since he played in the Joes team of 1968. That was the team that won both the Lady Jayetilleke and Basil Weeratunge Shields. My surprise was justified as the first thing he asked me, was whether I too was one of them who had heard that Tuan had made peace with his maker.
The gathering was of a few of Joe’s sportsman who during that era brought honour and distinction to the School by the Lake. We all found him kicking and in the best of spirits.
Tuan fashioned the Victory in 1966 in the first match he played with some splendid drop goals to beat St Thomas at Darley Road s and take the Lady Jayetilleke Shield. A champion sprinter, he won the 100 m and 200 m events at the public schools and junior nationals. Joseph Soysa and Sunil Hettiarcrchchi were two members of the record breaking relay team along with Kitchil. Joseph was an unstoppable wing three, if and when he caught the ball, and played for St. Joseph’s and Havelock’s.
Sunil captained the Soccer team and played for Ratnams and Sri Lanka. Rohan De Alwis was Sunil’s teammate in the record breaking Junior Relay team. Rohan captained the Rugby team and later went on to play for CH and was the Secretary of the Sri Lanka Society of Rugby Football Referees. Rohan recalled how he had to referee a match as the appointed referee did not turn up. It was a decisive match between unbeaten Havelock’s and Army. As the Secretary of the Referees Society he had to take the field with the whistle in hand. Having come as a spectator he was well marinated and was in the best of spirits. “Either he could not believe his eyes or the spirit in him made him see punches being thrown”. He had to send the captain of the Army team off the field. He recalled that the game was played at a time when to the letter and the spirit of rugby was important. The Commander of the Army thanked him after the match and mentioned that orders have been given for the culprit captain to be transferred out of Colombo.
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| “Hornets” meet |
Others present included Tuan’s team mates Bede Johnpillai who also played cricket. Bede walked into the field, rugby or cricket, spotlessly dressed and walked out the same way. Harin de Costa who was a tower of strength in the second row and made good ball available supporting the late Shiraz Fernando. Srilal Samaresekera and Arthur Hakel donned flannels with distinction and were good athletes. Arthur captained the soccer team while Srilal played rugby after leaving school.
All talked passionately about was how they performed to give the best for the team and achieved a place in history. Most tines; the luxury was the plain tea with lime given once a week on the last day of practice. On match days you had the fish bun and a cup of tea while the athletes and cricketers got lunch in addition. From there a walk to the dressing rooms via the College Chapel. Irrespective of religion all prayed and walked out with pride to represent the school and walked onto the field at Darley Road.
It is worth quoting the following from the Mirror, “The Joes not only raised the dust as they thundered around the field they also raised hell too. It was certainly the hottest time St. Peter’s had this season. Never a minute did it lose its ferocity with which it started. Never a minute did the players relax. Not a minute escaped without thrill. As they won the Basil Weeratunge shield for the first time”.
The consensus was that they all played the game with passion and performed at their peak. To step on to the Darley Road ground was pride. It is that passion and the belonging that must be there if we are to achieve greatness. High performance is all about that passion and not making a change of coach or a quest to stay on top.
Vimal Perera is a former Rugby Referee, coach and Accredited Referees Evaluator IRB |
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