By Chathura Pinnawala
Isipathana’s performance last season was an attention-drawer in many ways. Their style was reminiscent of the glory days and that has been perpetual in the preceding seasons too, but what parted company with the past few years was the consistency. It’s clear from the fact that if not for a narrow reversal against the eventual champions, Royal, they could be readying their guns for a title defence.
The Prasad Devinda led side
reached the Knock-out final, before being knackered by Trinity and if
they can continue that rich vein of consistency, this could well be the
year that they put to bed the anomaly of a lack of the League
Championship for 10 years which is not worthy of Isipathana’s
fleet-footed reputation.
Isipathana rugby started in 1962 and the first captain was Bryan Ingram. Randy Keller was influential in introducing rugby to the school and under the management of Y. C. Chang they beat St. Anthony’s 8-3 in the first ever match. Ever since, their dominance is an all told story and through the years, they have produced 56 national players and four captains. True to form, Isipathana have had access to 13 league titles, eight knock-out titles and 11 triple crowns. In the condensed version, the sevens, they are 19 time champions and stamped their authority in International Singer Sevens, winning it four times.
Their achievement summit was in 1992, when the sweeping of six trophies out of seven on offer was fulfilled under Champika Nishantha. Underachieving is certainly not something that be attributed to Isipathana rugby.
The team is skippered by third year coloursman and flanker Kumendra Dharmadasa and their forward line will consist of Ushan Charuka and Ganuka Dissanayake (props), Manaka Siriwardena (hooker), Malith Gomes and Ganindu Dissanayake (second-row) and Senal Deelaka. Traditionally, the forwards aren’t the stronghold of ‘Pathana’ and their pack is lightweight, compared to the others, but in the first match against Vidyartha, they were able to hold their end tight and coach Shamly Nawaz believes they’ll get better as the season progresses.
"Our forwards were solid against Vidyartha. Last year too we had a strong forward line. I think they’ll get better as the season goes on, because we got much needed experience there."
Nawaz was outspoken about the target of the year too. "We always brace for a season with the sole intention of winning the title and this year is no different. There’ll be up and downs like the Vidyartha game, but that doesn’t alter our plans."
The No 8 jersey is worn by Arun Kumar and Kavindu Costa is the scrum half and they have huge boots to fill in Sajid Suhaib, who was gallant in the positions last year. Hirantha Perera will walk into the fly half role vacated by previous captain Devinda and Shenal Dias and Pabasara Madhawa in the wings will have the gruesome task of living up to the expectations those jerseys carry with it in Pathana rugby. Shamal Chathuranga and Uditha Premathilake are the two centers while Sithum Chathusanka at fullback completes the line-up.
Who are the players to look out for? "Shamal Chathuranga is one player we have high hopes about. He was unlucky to miss out on the junior national squad last year due to an injury he sustained. Flanker Senal Deelaka is another exciting prospect and we have earmarked him as a player who can lead the side in the future. Apart from that, captain Dharmadasa, No 8 Kumar, fullback Chathusanka are some who are bound to show their colours."
Is the 10 year procrastination about to end?
Isipathana College Squad:
Kumendra Dharmadasa (Captain), Shenal Dias (Vice Captain), Ushan Charuka, Manaka Siriwardena, Ganuka Dissanayake, Malith Gomes, Ganindu Weerasinghe, Senal Deelaka, Arun Kumar, Kavindu Costa, Hirantha Perera, Shamal Chathuranga, Pabasara Madhawa, Sithum Chathusanka and Uditha Premathilake.
Reserves: Hasitha Udyoga, Heshan Maldeniya, Ruchira Dilshan, Ashan Darling, Sudeera Karunaratne, Ashan Kovinda, Dilshan Viduranga, Isanga Panchama, Sudam Parinda and Kushan Indunil.
Monday 24th April, 2012 - The Island
Isipathana’s performance last season was an attention-drawer in many ways. Their style was reminiscent of the glory days and that has been perpetual in the preceding seasons too, but what parted company with the past few years was the consistency. It’s clear from the fact that if not for a narrow reversal against the eventual champions, Royal, they could be readying their guns for a title defence.
Isipathana rugby started in 1962 and the first captain was Bryan Ingram. Randy Keller was influential in introducing rugby to the school and under the management of Y. C. Chang they beat St. Anthony’s 8-3 in the first ever match. Ever since, their dominance is an all told story and through the years, they have produced 56 national players and four captains. True to form, Isipathana have had access to 13 league titles, eight knock-out titles and 11 triple crowns. In the condensed version, the sevens, they are 19 time champions and stamped their authority in International Singer Sevens, winning it four times.
Their achievement summit was in 1992, when the sweeping of six trophies out of seven on offer was fulfilled under Champika Nishantha. Underachieving is certainly not something that be attributed to Isipathana rugby.
The team is skippered by third year coloursman and flanker Kumendra Dharmadasa and their forward line will consist of Ushan Charuka and Ganuka Dissanayake (props), Manaka Siriwardena (hooker), Malith Gomes and Ganindu Dissanayake (second-row) and Senal Deelaka. Traditionally, the forwards aren’t the stronghold of ‘Pathana’ and their pack is lightweight, compared to the others, but in the first match against Vidyartha, they were able to hold their end tight and coach Shamly Nawaz believes they’ll get better as the season progresses.
"Our forwards were solid against Vidyartha. Last year too we had a strong forward line. I think they’ll get better as the season goes on, because we got much needed experience there."
Nawaz was outspoken about the target of the year too. "We always brace for a season with the sole intention of winning the title and this year is no different. There’ll be up and downs like the Vidyartha game, but that doesn’t alter our plans."
The No 8 jersey is worn by Arun Kumar and Kavindu Costa is the scrum half and they have huge boots to fill in Sajid Suhaib, who was gallant in the positions last year. Hirantha Perera will walk into the fly half role vacated by previous captain Devinda and Shenal Dias and Pabasara Madhawa in the wings will have the gruesome task of living up to the expectations those jerseys carry with it in Pathana rugby. Shamal Chathuranga and Uditha Premathilake are the two centers while Sithum Chathusanka at fullback completes the line-up.
Who are the players to look out for? "Shamal Chathuranga is one player we have high hopes about. He was unlucky to miss out on the junior national squad last year due to an injury he sustained. Flanker Senal Deelaka is another exciting prospect and we have earmarked him as a player who can lead the side in the future. Apart from that, captain Dharmadasa, No 8 Kumar, fullback Chathusanka are some who are bound to show their colours."
Is the 10 year procrastination about to end?
Isipathana College Squad:
Kumendra Dharmadasa (Captain), Shenal Dias (Vice Captain), Ushan Charuka, Manaka Siriwardena, Ganuka Dissanayake, Malith Gomes, Ganindu Weerasinghe, Senal Deelaka, Arun Kumar, Kavindu Costa, Hirantha Perera, Shamal Chathuranga, Pabasara Madhawa, Sithum Chathusanka and Uditha Premathilake.
Reserves: Hasitha Udyoga, Heshan Maldeniya, Ruchira Dilshan, Ashan Darling, Sudeera Karunaratne, Ashan Kovinda, Dilshan Viduranga, Isanga Panchama, Sudam Parinda and Kushan Indunil.
Monday 24th April, 2012 - The Island
