Isipatana College with a star studded line up are in search of their past glory as they look to redeem their lost prestige in the current inter- school rugby season.
They have retained virtually the same team that performed last year and with 13 coloursmen in their ranks they could be considered as strong contenders for the Singer Division One League
title.
They have retained virtually the same team that performed last year and with 13 coloursmen in their ranks they could be considered as strong contenders for the Singer Division One League
title. The Isipatana College First XV rugby pool for 2010. Pctures by Mahinda Vithanachchi
Last year of course their efforts ended in vain as they were pushed into the fifth place in the final points table after having recorded only five victories. Even then they were able to conclude the season on a positive note by emerging runners-up at the President’s Trophy knock out tournament.
Isipatana came very close to creating an upset as they went down fighting 19-22 in the final against S. Thomas’ College, Mount Lavinia. Before that they had the better of Dharmaraja College, Kandy (27-21) in the quarter-finals and Wesley College (28-0) in the semi-finals respectively.
In the league tournament last year their finest moment probably came when they outplayed Kingswood College Kandy 25-19 in a key fixture at the Bogambara Stadium. Their success certainly had a great amount of significance as they were performing away from home and it also shattered Kingswood’s hopes of retaining the title for the second successive year.
In addition they defeated St. Peter’s College (22-12), Dharmaraja College Kandy (21-6), St. Joseph’s College and Mahanama College (39-10). But their hopes were
shattered following two major setbacks where they lost to St. Anthony’s College (10-12) and Trinity College, Kandy (15-27) respectively.
Isipatana College could look back at the past with a great amount of pride having produced as many as 53 national players since they started playing rugby in 1963. This is a fantastic achievement for a school which still does not own a playground of their own. As a result Isipatana are forced to depend heavily on their neighbouring Havelocks Sports Club which has been very supportive in providing the grounds free of charge for practices.
Isipatana came very close to creating an upset as they went down fighting 19-22 in the final against S. Thomas’ College, Mount Lavinia. Before that they had the better of Dharmaraja College, Kandy (27-21) in the quarter-finals and Wesley College (28-0) in the semi-finals respectively.
In the league tournament last year their finest moment probably came when they outplayed Kingswood College Kandy 25-19 in a key fixture at the Bogambara Stadium. Their success certainly had a great amount of significance as they were performing away from home and it also shattered Kingswood’s hopes of retaining the title for the second successive year.
In addition they defeated St. Peter’s College (22-12), Dharmaraja College Kandy (21-6), St. Joseph’s College and Mahanama College (39-10). But their hopes were
shattered following two major setbacks where they lost to St. Anthony’s College (10-12) and Trinity College, Kandy (15-27) respectively.Isipatana College could look back at the past with a great amount of pride having produced as many as 53 national players since they started playing rugby in 1963. This is a fantastic achievement for a school which still does not own a playground of their own. As a result Isipatana are forced to depend heavily on their neighbouring Havelocks Sports Club which has been very supportive in providing the grounds free of charge for practices.
Ashan Chaturanga (captain)
Despite all these setbacks Isipatana College have continued to prosper and more importantly they have been feeding the national squad with some outstanding ruggerites.
In fact during the last couple of years the Sri Lanka team has been studded with five Isipatanians namely Dinesh Chaturanga, Srinath Sooriyabandara, Sajith Saranga, Reza Mubarak and Vishwamithra Jayasinghe. This is in addition to the number of youth players they have been feeding to the Sri Lanka Under 19 squad.
Isipatana of course suffered a shock defeat at the hands of St. Peter’s College by 8-27 in their opening match of the tournament at Havelock Park during the weekend.
But that will not be the end of their campaign and they will be even more determined to display their prowess in the remaining matches of the tournament.
In fact Isipatana will face two tough opponents during the next two weeks when they confront Kingswood College, Kandy and S. Thomas’ College, Mount Lavinia respectively.
This will be followed by two traditional games against Royal College on May 29 and Trinity College, Kandy on June 5 respectively.
The Isipatana College First XV Rugby Pool for 2010
Prop forwards: Heshana Sudharaka, Dhanushka Sooriyarachchi
Hooker: Prasad Madushanka, Isuru Fernando, Marlon Hevavitharana, Nipuna Devinda
Second rowers: M. Gayashan, Rukshan Jalil, Muksheed Kuthdoos
Flankers: Sajid Suhayb, Deshanth Subashana, Ashan Kovinda, Kuvendra Dharmadasa
Number eight: Tharindu Anuruddha, Udaya Kumar, Nigel Nadeesha, P. Wickremasinghe, J. Deen
Scrum halves: Shenal de Costa, Mohamed Rizwan
Fly half: Prasad Devinda
Centres: Ashan Chaturanga (captain), Yuresh Fonseka, Mohamed Ali, Nikalanka Promoda, Uditha Shenal
Wingers: Umayanga Sooriyabandara, Prashan Attanayake, Chanaka Kumara, Sumedha Srimal
Full back: Malik Jumath, Shenal Dias
Coach: Shamly Navaz
The tournament fixtures:
April 30: v Kingswood College, Kandy at Havelock Park
May 8: v S. Thomas’ College at Mount Lavinia
May 12: v Wesley College at Longden Place
May 22: v St. Anthony’s College at Havelock Park
May 29: v Royal College at Longden Place
June 5: v Trinity College Kandy at Longden Place
June 12: v Prince of Wales College, Moratuwa at Havelock Park
June 19: v Dharmaraja College, Kandy at Bogambara
Isipatana of course suffered a shock defeat at the hands of St. Peter’s College by 8-27 in their opening match of the tournament at Havelock Park during the weekend.
But that will not be the end of their campaign and they will be even more determined to display their prowess in the remaining matches of the tournament.
In fact Isipatana will face two tough opponents during the next two weeks when they confront Kingswood College, Kandy and S. Thomas’ College, Mount Lavinia respectively.
This will be followed by two traditional games against Royal College on May 29 and Trinity College, Kandy on June 5 respectively.
The Isipatana College First XV Rugby Pool for 2010
Prop forwards: Heshana Sudharaka, Dhanushka Sooriyarachchi
Hooker: Prasad Madushanka, Isuru Fernando, Marlon Hevavitharana, Nipuna Devinda
Second rowers: M. Gayashan, Rukshan Jalil, Muksheed Kuthdoos
Flankers: Sajid Suhayb, Deshanth Subashana, Ashan Kovinda, Kuvendra Dharmadasa
Number eight: Tharindu Anuruddha, Udaya Kumar, Nigel Nadeesha, P. Wickremasinghe, J. Deen
Scrum halves: Shenal de Costa, Mohamed Rizwan
Fly half: Prasad Devinda
Centres: Ashan Chaturanga (captain), Yuresh Fonseka, Mohamed Ali, Nikalanka Promoda, Uditha Shenal
Wingers: Umayanga Sooriyabandara, Prashan Attanayake, Chanaka Kumara, Sumedha Srimal
Full back: Malik Jumath, Shenal Dias
Coach: Shamly Navaz
The tournament fixtures:
April 30: v Kingswood College, Kandy at Havelock Park
May 8: v S. Thomas’ College at Mount Lavinia
May 12: v Wesley College at Longden Place
May 22: v St. Anthony’s College at Havelock Park
May 29: v Royal College at Longden Place
June 5: v Trinity College Kandy at Longden Place
June 12: v Prince of Wales College, Moratuwa at Havelock Park
June 19: v Dharmaraja College, Kandy at Bogambara
DailyNews - April 27th, 2010 - By Chris Dhambarage
