Sylvestrian ruggerities hoping for improved performance

Hafiz Mairkar

St. Sylvester’s College with five last year players, are hoping for an improved performance in the current inter school rugby season, playing in the School “B” group on Monday hosted Nalanda College in their opening game at Bogambara Stadium, which game the Nalandians won by 26 points to 20.

This season they are under a new coach, M. Faizal a product of their rival school Vidyartha College. With his guidance Sylvesterians should do well in the sport, which they have taken up as one of their main sports.

At one time they were the kings of boxing and also produced top footballers, but now they are more keen in rugby. A big hand should go to their Assistant Principal cum Prefect of Games A.K.B.Dodanwella for keeping the game alive and kicking.

Rest of their matches are against Mahanama (March 24 in Colombo), S.Thomas’ (April 6 in Bogambara), Prince of Wales (May 2 Bogambara), Kannangara MV (May 3 Colombo), D.S. Senanayake (May 12 Bogambara), Thurstan (May 16 in Colombo), Ananda (May 31 Bogambara),

Lumbini (June 9 Bogambara).

Their key game will be against their rivals Vidyartha, which they play for a trophy. Last year this match did not take place due to heavy schedule and no grounds. This year they are hoping to revive this game.

The side is led by center three-quarter J.M.C. Dissanayake a fine tackler and good thinker of the game should get the best out of his players and should be on top with the support of his senior players such as D.I. Rajapakse, C.J. Dissanayake, M.s.D. Mahroon, D.S. Perera.

Sylverstrians started rugby in the mid 1950’s, and in the very first year played against University of Peradenya and lost by 6 points to 16, and in the following year opened with St Peter’s College which game they lost by 0-12 points. Trinity College gave them a game, to encourage the new school who have taken up rugby, Trinity won 25-00.

When the game was first introduced, it was Malcolm Marshal who led the side and later went on to play for the Royal Ceylon Navy and Defence Services. Tony Direckez, Daya Pelpola are some f the names which I found. Once again the game was revived in 1986, by principal late Bertie Nillagoda, from that year they have made vast progress.

They have produced several ruggerites some of whom played for clubs without playing for the school. They were, Cyril Aluwihare who played for Kandy sports for nearly 14 years as a prop forward, Gerard David played for Air Force, Nimal Leweke best out of all and the man who went to the top, first played for Kandy Sports Club and from there joined the police played and led the side and also played for the country, and later became the Police Rugby Chairman, President of the Sri Lanka Rugby Football Union, President of the Sri Lanka Rugby Referees society, was top class referee and coached Kandy sports Club to win the triple and also coached the Sri Lanka 7’s and 15 a side teams, Anton Fernando played for Kandy SC., Wasantha Ratnayake played for CR & FC., this writer played for Kandy SC. Wasantha Basanyake played for Kandy SC and Police SC, J. Jamalon for Navy SC, after they took over the game.

The Colombo branch of the OBA, is giving a big hand to promote the game of rugby and the coach is sponsored by them.