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| Sunday, 26 September 2004 |
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Sports |  |
| News Business Features Editorial
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Kingswood - the top school in rugby 2004 It was the school which was started in 1891 by the name of "The Boys High School" by the great sportsman himself Mr. Luis Edmond Blaze, later became "Kingswood College Kandy", who's name is now become the most prominent name in the Schools' rugby arena in the island. Kingswood, who were the first school to play rugby way back in 1893, are now celebrating the 'Nelson' - 111 years of rugby and to be a complete opposite of the Englishmen, are now enjoying by far the best rugby season they ever had in their history of 111 years. The College 1st fifteen team had one of their best seasons in year 2003, by becoming the only unbeaten team in the schools section and became the 'B'-division league champions and later came in to the prestigious President's Trophy and won it convincingly. A major proportion of players from last year had the opportunity to play this year as well and how well they showed their experience and the supremacy in the Schools Rugby in Sri Lanka by winning the 'Golden Key Kings Rugby 7's' held in Bogambara Stadium at the beginning of the season, and continued their winning streak by remaining as the only unbeaten team and clinching the 'A'-division league title for the first time in school's history. They went in to the Milo Schools' President's Trophy with immense confidence and became the champions of the President's Trophy 2004 beating arch rivals Wesley College and also clinching the 2nd leg of the converted L.E. Blaze Trophy 2004. They kept on winning further by continuing their unbeaten record where they won the "Singer - SriLankan Rugby 7's Title few days ago convincingly, which enabled them to score 4 out of 4 which itself is now somewhat a new Sri Lankan Schools record. The key to the success gained in the recent past of Kingswood rugby is not because of any individual brilliance or contribution. It was merely a team effort of the Rugby Committee of Kingswood College which is led by their dynamic Principal Mr. Ranjith Chandrasekara, record-holding past rugby stars in Mr. Ronnie Ibrahim who is one of the most respected coaches in the Island, coach, while the 'Irion man' himself, Mr. D.U. Mohothilal Jayathilake heads as the 'Performance Therapist', has made sure that the current team is one of the strongest & fittest teams without a single major injury to any player this season. The much required technical assistance on the "Laws of the Game" was presented to the team at the beginning of the season by the renown I.R.B. International Referee Mr. Anil Jayasinghe along with our own Mr. A.C. Tennakoon (I.R.B. Level 2) & Mr. Ranil de Silva (I.R.B. Level 1), to ensure that the players are updated with all the rules & regulations of the game laid down by the I.R.B., S.L.R.F.U. & S.L.S.R.F.A. The sponsorship of Epic Lanka (Pvt) Limited backed by the Old Kingswoodian himself in Mr. Nayana Dehigama - (who is also the President of the Kingswood Union Colombo Branch) the continuous striving force behind the college rugby team "The Ruck n' Maul" Old Kingswoodians Rugby Football Club, led by the former rugby star Mr. Gamini Suwaris who himself sponsored the team over a decade under his brand name Design Club and still continues to do so whenever possible, along with every past Kingswoodian who is now behind the 1st IV as a team of force which is indeed is a great picture. Kingswood rugby must also be grateful for the continuous support extended towards the team's success by the 'Kingswood Union', both main & Colombo branches along with the "Old Kingswoodians Sports Club" contributed in no small measure for the success of the team. The college team led by Fazil Marija, the national fly half, who was awarded as the 'Best Schools Rugby Player of the Year 2004' at the 'Golden Key Kings Rugby 7's, 'The Presidents Trophy 2004' and also at the 'Singer - SriLankan Rugby 7's 2004, with key seniors deputy Madhuka Tennakoon (center), Achala Perera, Heshan Premaratne (scrum half), Mohamad Luthfi (wing), Gemunu Kirinde (flanker), M. Rizvi (forward) and the ever reliable Erande Weerakoody (full back) who comes from a very strong rugby pedigree, were the stars of the team this year. |
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