Trinity - Antonian centenary next year

by Hafiz Marikar

The Inter-school cricket season in Kandy will be in full swing and Trinity College who did well last season are determined to give a good account of themselves this season too with their centenary ‘Big match’ against the Antonians within sight.

Trinity’s all-important game will be against their traditional rivals St. Anthony’s College, Katugasthota (known as Kandy’s Battle of the Blues) one of the leading annual school (Big Matches) in the hill capital and also in the country.

This season Trinity and St.Anthony’s will be meeting each other in their centenary match at the Pallekelle International Stadium; the first encounter between the two schools were played at the Bogambara grounds in March 1914.

This encounter is being played for a trophy in memory of John Francis Halangoda, who had coached both schools, and was known as Prince of cricket coaches, the date for the year’s big match is fixed on March 10 and 11.

The limited overs encounter is played a week after the big match for the Sir Richard Aluwihare Trophy, probably at Pallekelle

Trinity began playing cricket in the 1880s , their first school game was against Royal College. The first real effort of Trinity forming a school side came in 1892. Their first ever inter school match was against Royal College in 1893 .

The fixtures.

September 30 – 31 vs. Dharmapala College at Pannipitiya, October 7-8 Dharmaraja College

Asgiriya, 13-14 St. Mary’s College Kegalle at Asgiriya, 21-22 St. Peters College Asgiriya, 27-28 Wesley College (Traditional) Asgiriya, November 4-5 St. Anthony’s College at Wattala, December 28-29 vs. Nalanda College Asgiriya,

January 2017 – 13-14 Richmond College in Galle, 20-21 St. Josephs College at Darley Road, 27/18 St. Sebastian’s College at Asgiriya, February , 2-3 Ananda College at Asgiriya, 10-11 Isipathana College Asgiriya, 17-18 St. Thomas College at Mt. Lavania, 24-25 Royal College at Reid Avenue. March 10-11 (100th big match) vs St. Anthony’s College at Pallekelle International Stadium., March 18 One Day at Pallekelle .

(Date to be confirmed)

Leading the side this season is that stylish batsman Shanogeeth Shanmuganathan who started as an opener but now bats at number three.,

An astute captain, Shanmuganathan should get the best out of his team . Shanogeeth’s deputy is all-rounder Hasitha Boyagoda.

He has already scored a half century and should pose problems to the opponents with his all round efforts.

Rest of the players vying for places are Ruvin Pieris, Kalan de Zoysa, Vimukthi Nethumal, Pooma Wanasekera, Hasiha Jayasuriya, Trevon Percival, Avishka Senadeera, Bathiya Dissanyake, Osanda Herath, Buvanika Ekanayake, Thiyharaja Banugophan, Mohamed Sugaib, Chanuka Bandara, Tharanmga Dasanayake. Kavinda Sameera Jayasuriya an old boy will coach Trinity.