Trinity confront DSSC tomorrow
by Hafiz Marikar
A revamped Trinity College outfit showed a complete different display
of rugby in comparison to their previous outing against Wesley College.
At the same venue, the game against St. Joseph's College was almost a no
contest when they trounced the Joes by 40/14. In this game Trinity
played at full strength led by their skipper and got off to a fantastic
start that any team would have dreamt, with a try in the opening minute.
Tomorrow (Monday), Trinity will be making their third appearance in
the current school division one rugby encounter against D.S. Senanayake
College at Longden Place, Trinity has nine of the last season players.,
and have beaten Wesley College and St. Joseph's College and are
determined to register another win.
They should not be complacent and should not repeat the blunders the
they did in the opening game against Wesley College as they suffered a
close two points win. The other first round games are against S. Thomas'
College and Royal College. Trinity's key game of the year is the Bradby
Shield encounter against Royal. The 'first 'leg' is on 30th April while
the return game will be played in Kandy on 14th May, The Bradby tally
remains at - Trinity 39, Royal 31 and 1 tied.
Coach Eric Miller, a former Irish Rugby Union and Gaelic football
player shone among the likes of Old Wesley, Leicester Tigers, Ulster,
Leinster, the Barbarians, Ireland and the British and Irish Lions.
After retiring as a rugby player, he took up football and there too
excelled as a national player of repute for his country.
He went on to play for Ireland at the 1999 and 2003 Rugby World Cups.
He is assisted by two former Kandy Sports Club captains, one who played
for the country and the other an old boy of Trinity - Sean Wijesinghe
and former Isipathana player Saliya Kumara.
The Master in charge of rugby is Sahana Vajirasena and the Manager is
the former skipper Manoj Jayatissa. Shane de Silva is the POG. The side
is packed with young and up-and-coming players and has a tremendous
backing by the school and should do well in the rest of the first round
matches.
The Old Trinitians Rugby scrummage headed by Rohan Abeykoon who
played center during his playing days for the school, CH and FC and the
country, with his committee are all out to give off their best like in
the past.
This year Trinity is led by lanky Rahul Karunatilake, a tireless
player in the loose, fine lineout jumper and a good cover defender.
Fly half Thushila Perera is the deputy. The front row comprises of
Sheveen Ekanayake and Melon Malish with Aveesha Priyabjara, Kanchana
Wimlasiri, Patrick Jayasundra and Mahadhi Abdullah making a determined
bid to oust one them.
The hooker is Nathan Yee, with Hasiry Weliwatta and Akthab Ramzeen
fighting for the position.
Rahul Karunatilake the captain is the second row forward with Anjana
Bandra.
The others who are vying for the place are Pasan Samarawickrema,
Pravinda Wijetilake and Pubudu Fernando. The Trinitians possess a
formidable third row, with the experienced duo Rukshan Dharmnapala and
Shadhi Deen as flankers, who are also terrific players in the loose and
also Keshara Paliyangoda a forward who can inspire his team with his
tireless loose play, Rishen Madena is as good as the regular.
Rasheen Bandaranaike who operates from the base of the scrum with
Anuk Boyagoda as the reserve. Deputy skipper Thusila Perera is the fly
half and Lashan Wijesuriya another fine fly half with a good pair of
boots is also a potential player.
The centres are Sajan Sengasinghe, Avishka Sheik, Warren Weerakoon
and Naveen Deradson making a determined bid to oust one of them. The
wingers are Geeshan Pethiyagoda and Diluksh Dange with Amith Kulatunga
and Mohamed Ikram fighting for places.
The last line of defence is manned by Sarushka Abeyawickrema who has
the ability to join the line to form the overlap, and Ayesha Edirisinghe
also good in this position. |
