Doubting Thomians now convicted believers

S. Thomas' College makes the perfect ambush after years in the wilderness looking for a preemptive strike:

For years they were cast into the dumps of desolation, shunned by soothsayers and sought after as mere punching bags by opposing teams in the high magnetic schools rugby arena without a dog's chance.

The triumphant S. Thomas’ College rugby team comprising Naveen Hemakankanange (captain), Praveen Ferdinando, Senal de Silva, Wayne Mack, Ashwantha Herath, Boomindra Dissanayake, Dhanuja Wijeratne, Dion Dias, CJ de Lile, D Gamage, Charith Nanayakkara and Mayon Jayawardena celebrate on the podium after winning the inter-school Sevens title along with members of the backstage team comprising Tavita Tulagaese (coach-unseen), Lakmaal de Zoysa (rugby coordinator), Niroshala Manuel (teacher in charge) and assistant coach (Dinesh Kumara) Picture by Wasitha Patabendige

But now just when everyone outside the school thought they'll be down for the count in yet another season, the Thomians have woken up like a sleeping giant or more like a giant slayer producing their Sunday best last week to grab the Sevens title and sound a warning to rivals it's payback time.

The last time S. Thomas' College won a title was in 2009 at the Milo Knock-out tournament after ending runners-up in the high profile League and the transformation from a castaway to a champion came at a time when a behind-the-scene team spiritually guided by the school's Warden the reverend Marc Billimoria, a charismatic clergyman, had set the course for a conversion.

"The boys started to believe that they could do it and this was the result", said Lakmaal de Zoysa the Rugby Coordinator of S. Thomas' College.

"We took the proceedings (Sevens tournament) match by match and then began to realize it was possible. The commitment and the hard work put in by the boys paid off".

Perhaps the reinvention of the Thomians may have begun last year somewhere in June when they faced the threat of an embarrassing demotion into the lower rungs of the League and confronted the fancied St. Peter's College team.

The Peterites thought it was a cakewalk until the Thomians ran away with the match to party with one of the season's most shocking results.

"I think that match (versus St. Peter's) was the turning point. We knew the Peterites were tough to crack and we had some injuries among the players. But the replacements did their part.

From there on we could only look ahead and avert demotion", said De Zoysa who interestingly marks his return to the backstage after initially taking up the post in 2004.

The Thomians won last Sunday's Sevens title by beating Isipathana 19-14 in the final with six of the players, Naveen Hemakankanange, Praveen Ferdinando, Wayne Mack, Ashwantha Herath, Boomindra Dissanayake and Dhananjaya Wijeratne taking the field as coloursmen.

In the new 2016 League season the Thomians will have additional coloursmen in Pandula de Silva the hooker who will captain the team along with Malinda Deshappriya, Sachintha Jayatilleke, Shaneer Ahangama and Tehan Perera.

The side is expected to come out with more bite and flair on March 18 when they confront St. Joseph's College in their first League match at Longden Place in Colombo under Samoan coach Tavita Tulagaese who will have two assistants in Dinesh Kumara and Dayan Gunatilleke with the off-stage extending to cover a team physician (Dr. Manjula Karunaratne), an Injury Management Consultant (Thanura Abeywardena) and a teacher-in-charge (Niroshala Manuel).

With such a high profile ring the Thomians, according to De Zoysa, will this time not come out as a bunch of bunnies taking the blows but unleashing it themselves.

"Definitely they (supporters) can expect and look forward to a season", said De Zoysa.

The Thomians will also play group League matches against DS Senanayake, Royal, Trinity and Wesley in the first round.