Wesley a determined lot

Chris Dhambarage

Wesley College who stole the limelight last year with their exciting brand of rugby are hoping that they could produce the same kind of form in the current inter schools rugby season.

They made a huge impact by winning the Singer 'B' division league title and also received a promotion into the 'A' division tournament from this year. They have been able to provide some tough opposition in their two outings this season where they went down fighting against S. Thomas' College Mount Lavinia (5-29) and the defending champions Royal College (0-12) respectively.

The Wesleyites can be excused for their two defeats considering the fact they were up against two of the strongest teams who are vying for honours in the 'A' division league tournament. Even then they provided some anxious moments to the formidable Thomian outfit by snatching a five nil lead at half time and conceded only two tries against the reigning champions Royal College.

These two performances certainly showed the kind of spirit that the Wesleyites have been maintaining in the recent past ever since they were crowned 'B' division league champions.

Now they are determined to extend that form into the next level as they will be up against Isipatana College this weekend followed by another important match against Trinity College Kandy.

Incidentally Wesley College which is one of the oldest institutions in Sri Lanka with a history of 136 years will be celebrating 55 years of rugby this year. Wesley College a dominant force in the present schools rugby scene commenced the game in the year 1956 during the era of Rev P. H. Nonis and under the captaincy of Eddie Buell.

However Wesley College is yet to make their mark of being 'A' division league champions although they have been in the fray for the past 54 years. The closest they came to being league champions was during the 1997 inter school season.

On that occasion under the captaincy of Anupama Wadugodapitiya Wesley completed the league tournament with an unbeaten record but had to be satisfied of being runners-up to Isipatana College on bonus points. During the period between 2002 to 2006 Wesley were able to make vast strides before they suffered a huge setback where they were pushed into the 'B' division league tournament.

However they took the opportunity to prove their talent and potential as they completed a very successful season while maintaining an unbeaten record. The most significant feature in their performances last year was that they were able to win every match by a huge margin. In fact on four occasions they piled up over fifty points as they humiliated Lumbini MV (64 nil), D. S. Senanayake College (89 nil), Science College (50-5) and St. Sylvester's College Kandy (60-13). In addition they trounced Thurstan College (25-10), Prince of Wales College, Moratuwa (42 nil), Ananda College (29-17), Vidyartha College Kandy (43-13) and Zahira College (43 nil) respectively.

This year the Wesley team will be captained by speedy centre three quarter Azmil Omar and will have the services of ten senior players who performed duties in last year's 'B' division champion side.

Wesley Rugby Pool:

Prop forwards: Kokila Sambandaperuma, Nadeera Ranasinghe, Vinod Benjamin, Ashan Nyles, V. Steinwall, Harshana Palliarachchi.

Hooker: Vidura Ramanayake.

Second rovers: Ranjula Perera, Tharindra Yohan, Randhika Tillekeratne, Shehan Dias, Lakru Perera.

Flankers: Ellaam Sallay, Viraj Nisansala, Danushka Sanjeewa, Dilshan Jayatilleke.

Number eight: Nadeera Mohamed.

Scrum half: Jude Rodrigo, Rahul de Silva.

Fly half: Mohamed Akil.

Centres: Azmil Omar (captain), Pathum Peiris, Ashan Rodrigo

Wingers: Mirhaj Motha, Prince Doraiappa, Muditha Hatthotuwa, Sithum Peiris.

Full back: Akram Azan.

Coach: Mohamed Mushtaq.

The tournament

fixtures:

May 7: v St. Anthony's at Royal Sports Complex

May 12: v Isipatana at Longden Place

May 21: v Trinity at Royal Sports Complex

May 29: v Prince of Wales at Royal Sports Complex

June 4: v Dharmaraja at Bogambara Stadium

June 12: v St. Peter's at Bambalapitiya

June 19: v Kingswood at Bogambara