Katugastota Antonians led by Dole excelled in rugby football

by Hafiz Marikar

Rugby Battle: It was Tuan Zarook Dole, who led the Katugastota Antonians, to beat the Trinitians for the first time in 1972 at rugby in the centenary year of Trinity. St. Anthony's College, having taken to the game only in the late 1950's has come a long way in the game of Rugby.

Much credit for Trinity's success is due to their first coach Bobby Jayaweera, who spared no pains to lay a solid foundation for the game at St. Anthony's College. The Antonians first team in 1956 comprised Bruce Winter (Capt.), Nimal Fernando, Ranjith Benjamin, Anton Balasuriya, Patrick Panabokke, Kenneth Beckmeyer, Mervyn Sikurajapathy, Freddie de Run, L.C. Wijesinghe, A. Beckmeyer, H. Dissanayake, Christopher Pereira, G. de Silva, Robin Koelmeyer, Steve Morrell, A.R. Imbuldeniya, R. Maldeniya, Andre Titus, and Prarine de Silva.

Tuan Zarook hails from a popular sporting family in Kandy. His father Tuan Hajireen Dole was the Chief Inspector of Police and was a prominent figure in the Police boxing teams. His brothers Farook Dole, presently in Australia, played rugger for the Kandy Lake Club, Kandy Sports Club and Up-Country. Marzook Dole was a cricketer and a rugby player. His nephews Rohan Abayakoon, Reza Dole, Shehan and Shasha Wijayawardena were all superb rugger players.

Tuan Dole who led the Antonians in their first victory against the Trinitians in 1972, was a polished and a crafty player. He started his rugby career from under 12 and ended up as one of the best products of St. Anthony's. It was under his leadership that St. Anthony's rugger team had a very successful season and ended up as unofficial champions. At that time, rugby was only thirteen years old in Katugastota. Tuan, leading the team, for the first time, beat Trinity College at Nittawela in a nail-biting finish by 13 points to 7. It was Trinity's first defeat to the Antonians.

The Antonian team had the Rajaguru brothers, Tyrone Rosario, Clement Fernando (elder brother of Minister Johnstone Fernando), Christopher Anderson, Clive Fernando, Hilmy Jainudeen, C.P.P. Raj, Dayananda de Silva, Nimala Malagamuwa, Tuan Dole, J.W. Waidyaratne, S. Shanmuganathan, Geoff Paul, Ian Ludowyke and Kalu Perera.

The Antonian side was moulded by old Peterite Maurice de Silva from the younger days and finally coached by old Trinitian Lucky Vitharane. This game was refereed by C.H. Seneviratne who is also an old Trinitian.

After this successful season, Antonians toured India. The man who was behind the success was their MIC Fr. A. Samarakoon and also the Principal Fr. Steven Abrahams one of the best principals the school has had in the last three decades.

That particular year, Trinity team was made out of B. Dharmaratne, S.B. Hearth, G. Assan, Mohan Ganapathy, N. Ratnakuaran, A. Pathirane, Y. Ching, Jeffrey Yu, Hanzil Samad, J. Ratwattte, A.E. Unantenne (Capt), W.L.A. Balasuriya, C.Y. Ching, L. Bandaranayake, S. Wright.

Tuan, while playing for the school, played for Kandy Sports Club and also for Havelock SC and later played for Dickoya MCC, CR and FC and Dimbula ACC. He was a 'livewire' of Dimbula ACC as a player, captain, committee member, coach, and ended as President. After stepping down from planting, Tuan came back to Kandy and was a committee member and the present President for the Central Province Rugby Football Union. He was also in the Kandy Sports Club Committee. He captained the Outstation Schools, Combined Schools, Up-Country, Sri Lanka President's XV and was a Sri Lankan poolist for quite a while.

Dole was famous for his heady playing and was also one of the finest goal-kickers who's technique was different. He was a fine thinker of the game and was well known for his dummies and at most times made rugby his favourite sport till he hung up his boots.

He has been on many tours abroad Sri Lanka manager. At present he is one of the SLRFU Committee Members and a Match Commissioner.

Dole has a illustrious family, his two daughters, Shanz is a doctor and Mumtaz a chartered Accountant, both Hillwoodians and the last named was a top class athlete too.