St. Anthony’s determined to show up well against Royal at rugby on March 21

by Mafiz Marikar

St. Anthony’s College, Kandy, will open their rugby season against Royal College, on 21st March in Colombo and are determined to give a better performance that what they did in the 2013 and 2014 years.

St. Anthony’s took to rugby long after the school introduced sports like cricket, boxing hockey, football and athletics.

It was in the ‘1950’s they started rugby with Bruce Winter as their first rugby captain. A big hand should go to Old Trinitian Bobby Jayaweera, the man who taught them how to handle a rugger ball and later Maurice Perera, another Trinitian gave the final tourches to the Antonian rugby team.

From the day, they took to the game, this sport became very popular. Though they started rugby in the 1950’s it was only in 1961 that enthusiasm was created and rugby received a big boost at St. Anthony’s and backing from all quarters. At the inception, most of the schools provided the Antonians with the 2nd XV fixtures. It was only in 1962 that they were permitted to play against the 1st XV teams.

St. Anthony’s first played schools like Trinity lost 3-14, Royal lost 0-17, S. Thomas’s 0-9, St. Peters 3-6, Zahira 0-30. The Antonians beat Thurstan 11-8, St. Joseph’s 14-8. In the latter years they were led by Win Chu Wei.

For the first time, the Antonian team led by H.M. Kuthdoos held the much fancied Trinitians led by Ajith Abeyratne to a 3 all draw at the Peradeniya University Grounds. That season, the Antonians won six matches and lost two matches and drew two.

1972 good year for Antonian Rugby

After quite a long wait, the Antonian rugby team enjoyed one of the finest years in 1972 when for the first time the Antonians were able to beat Trinity College by 13 – 7, the win was mainly due to the good coaching of Havelock SC, Kandy Lake Club and Sri Lanka Center Three-quarter Maurice de Silva, a Peterite, thanks should go to E.W. Balasuirya for bringing Maurice de Silva to Kandy.

The Antonians were led by Tuan Dole. That year St. Anthony’s won seven games. Against St. Joseph’s, St. Benedict’s, Kingswood, S. Thomas, Thurstan and Trinity, and they drew with St. Peter’s and lost to Royal.

The next best year for St. Anthony’s was in 1988, under the captaincy of Leroy Fonseka when they, emerged runners-up to Royal in the Schools Rugby League Championship. The Antonians remained unbeaten, winning nine out of ten matches and drawing the other.

Out of all the ruggerites, Priyantha Ekanayake stands tall and above all should very proud of being the first to captain the Sri Lanka Rugby Team form St. Anthonys and that too for a record ten consecutive years. He also had the privilege of leading the National Team for four consecutive Asiad’s a record yet to be broken.

Antonian captain

According to records, the under mentioned are those who Captained St. Anthony’s since 1960-Andre Titus, 1961-Winchu Wei, 1962-Winchu Wei, 1963-Ranjith Fernando/Saliya Kulatunga, 1964-Saliya Kulatunga, 1965-Michael Macky, 1966-Patrick Gunaratne, 1967-Basil Hyde, 1968-H.M. Kuthdoos, 1969-John Henry, 1970-Peter Corteling, 1971-Steve de Silva, 1972-Tuan Dole 1973-Jeffrey Paul, 1974-Arshad Dole-Mohammed Ali, 1975-Sarath Fernando, 1976-Nihal Gunaratne, 1977-Selvin Bulathsinghala. 1978-Haren Goonawardena / Reinzie Martinesz, 1979-Hubert Harley, 1980-Baratha Seneviratne, 1981-L. V. Ekanayake, 1982-Mohammed Nazaar, 1983-Channa De Costa, 1984-Priyantha Ekanayake, 1985-Mohammed Naliff, 1986-Sanjaya Amunugama, 1987-Senaka Kaluarachchi, 1988-Leroy Fonseka, 1989-Shanitha Fernando, 1990-Rohan Jayasundera, 1991-Lasantha Wijesuriya, 1992-Lalantha Karunatilleke, 1993-Chaminda Marasinghe, 1994-Suranga Kodituwakku, 1995-Malith Silva, 1996-Sameera Silva, 1997-Amila Kulatunga, 1998-Iranga Dissanayake/Isuru Herath, 1999-Salman Kuthdoos, 2000-Ashan Cooray. 2001-Tikiri Dissanayake, 2002-Asela Rajaguru, 2003-Suranga Swarnatilake, 2004-Imran Bistamin, 2005-Shaheer Reyal, 2006-Sanjaya Rjaguru, 2007-Kusal Rankothge, 2008-Chanaka Gunaratne, 2009-Amila Weligampola, 2010-Tharindu Chanaka, 2011-Sanke Rajaguru, 2012-Panduka Angamana, 2013 A. Ali and 2014 Damien Wijasiri.

St. Anthonys are hard at practice these days and there are about thirty five players. The Antonian, rugby is fully supported by Antonian Rugby Trust Fund led by Chamila Bandara and that great ruggerite Priyantha Ekanayake. The players are monitored by the Old Antonians Rugby Football Club headed by Mark Steven with the fullest backing coming from the Technical Committee Chaired by C.P.P. Raj under the school administration of the Principal Rev.Fr. Henry Wijeratne and other members of the staff, Prefect of Games Rev.Fr. Araliya Jayasundra hard on developing Antonian Rugby.

Antonian Rugby Fixtures

St. Anthony’s first round fixtures are against Royal in Colombo on 21st March, followed by matches against Trinity College, Science College, Dharmaraja College and S. Thomas College all in Kandy. At present, the Antonians are hard at practices morning, day and afternoon preparing for the inter-schools Sevens, and this tourney is tipped to beheld later this month, but there is also talk that this tournament may be postponed.

The Antonians are led by No 8 forward Newman Dilan, a third-year player, who has eight seniors under him. Dlan who is a fine team man, should lead the side form the front, as a player he is good in both attack and defense, so much is expected from this most experienced player of the side.

The players who are fighting for the ‘props’ berths are Anjana Ariyawansa, Shenal Dias, Gimhana Jayaratne, Kavinda Amarakoone, Shavesh Weerakoon, Pulatthise Dassanayake. Senior player Dinesh Rodrigo will be the No. 1 for the hookers place with Calvin Andrew providing opposition. 2nd Row forwards at practices are Shemal Weerasekara, Pasidu Dulshan, Mohamd Shebeer, San Roystan, Yuga Dahrshan, Flankers look sound with Dham Fernando, Thmimal Kituwila, Fasly Fazeer, Mohishan Raj, Jithen Daulagala, No 8:- Newman Dilan (Capt), Navishka Weerasekra.

The players who are eyeing to operate from the base of the scrum are: Pavithra de Silva, Duminda Hettiarachchi. The vital position of fly-half is expected to be occupied by Gerlad Naveen and there is Kumara Maduhuwantha who is likely to give a good run.

The players vying for the centres positions are Hashan Dilsad, Dinuk Amaraisnghe, Jehan Seelagama, Dilan Jagoda, Wing-threquarters positions are fought between Naveen Gunasekara, Tiroan Jayaraj, Janith Weerasekara.

Fullback position is bound to be filled by Dulaj Madusha while Probha Bandara is showing a lot of promise at practices.