Six weeks on since the Sri Lanka School’s rugby season kicked off and it’s just getting hotter and hotter.
S.Thomas’ College Mount Lavinia is thrashing all sides left-right & center without any pressure and they will definitely become the B’ Division champions with a new star born for Sri Lankan Rugby – Devin Jayasinghe. He is such a stylish & powerful player to watch with an amazing talent to read and control the game from his position as fly half. I am sure that Thora haven’t seen anyone like this in the last 4-5 years wearing the Blue, black and blue striped jersey.
Trinity College Kandy is leading the Div A points table sitting above Dharmaraja. By looking at TCKs performance in the last few weeks, they have proved that they are the best team in late rally come backs with their backs and forwards combining so well to win matches. But I am sure Halique Wadood’s men will have more to give in the remaining three matches which includs the Bradby. It’s a shocker how they lost that game to Thora. However Thora played really well on that day with their player maker capt. Devin J controlling the game brilliantly and executing some good kicks to gain territory to win the Cannon De Seram Shield.
Dharmaraja or the Rajans as they know is having one of the finest seasons in their rugby history this year. They are simply a champion outfit and treat to watch with Rochana Hettiarachchi leading from the front. DCK came in to top league following their success in last year’s ‘B’ division tournament as champions and have already created a couple of surprises and have been really an outstanding team in the top league. They would definitely fight hard to topple their home town rival TCK to become the A’Division league champions for 2013 as they held them to a thrilling 34-all draw in their opening match of the season.
Defending champions Isipathana is having one of the worst seasons in the last decade after losing 5 out of 6 matches and struggling hard to hold their position in the top league this year followed by Joes who only managed to beat Kingswood in their first outing.
The Anthonian eagles are still flying low this season and not sitting pretty outside relegation zone. The best game played this season was against Royal College whom they managed to beat 24-22 in Kandy. I am sure the SACK supporters are not happy about their performance in the recent past.
At the same time Royal and Kingswood is having a mix of good performances and bad while many are eagerly waiting to see how RC will perform at the Bradby. But my money is on TCK for that. However they say Bradby is different ball game. So let’s wait and see until then.
Even though the Reid Avenue boys did not start the season so well, they managed to win 3 out 6 games and ended the unbeaten run of Wesley –the giant killers this season. I am sure that they would definitely pull all strings and fire all cylinders to win the Bradby.
The double blue boys Wesley, played the best match of the season when they beat the defending champions Isipathana in their opening game. I am sure many would interestingly wait for them to topple the Peterites to regain the 3rd slot in the table in 2 weeks time
Science College led by 4th year coloursmen and Junior National Player, Richard Dharmapala who is capable of scoring match winning tries, started the season with a bang after thrashing Royal in their very first match. They also had to face two close defeats against Dharmaraja and St.Peter’s in the dying stages of the game. But this team has so much to entertain crowds by playing some fast open rugby in their games.
St.Peter’s is having a season with ups and downs winning 4 and losing 2 matches to the top 2 contenders of the league. They had a nail biting finish last weekend at Bamba when they beat Science College with a last minute try or I would say the “Last minute Magic”” after those famous comebacks they do in the dying stages of a game. Well some are still crying and accuse the referee saying that he played an extra 8 minutes that day and verbally abused the referee Mr.Gamini Indrasena using language belonged in the gutter. Sourgrapes !!!
However the boys from Bamba led by Shan Weerakkody will still have more to give for their Blue White & Gold supporters in the coming three weeks if they can play for their true potential.
This weekend will be having another set of blockbuster matches when Royal meets Isipathana for the Late Major Milroy Fernando trophy. While the lads for Darely Road – Joes will host the Trinity Lions at CR. Peterites will travel to Kandy for last time this season to play Kingswood at Bogambara. Science Boys will host Wesley at Mount and two home town rivals.Antho will lock horns with high riding Dharmaraja in Kandy.
On a funnier note… I managed to pen down some words below about my experience on the mentality of the school rugby supporters in Sri Lanka.
•If the opponents win with a 20 point margin or more – “we played badly ! The other side was lightning fast machan”
•If their team loses by 10 points or below -“we were just there.. silly mistakes cost us the game”!
•If their team loses by one point – “In vain – we would have taken that penalty than running with it and that conversion we missed was so easy ney”
•If their team loses and after leading majority of the game – REFA HORA !!!
That was Proper aint it mate?
THIS IS WHY THEY SAY THAT RUGBY HAS NO OPPONENTS ! BUT VICTIMS !
CHEERS PEOPLE !!
