The invincible Royal team of 1988
Mahima Wijesinghe
The invincible 1988 Royal College 1st XV Team led by Lasitha
Gunarathne recorded a Grand Slam. They won all matches including 11
traditional/ League Fixtures, three Premadasa Trophy Games and two games
in Hong Kong. This is the only Royal College 1st XV Rugby team which won
the League and knockout Tournaments.
During their tour to Hong Kong they defeated Hong Kong combined
school’s team (8-6), match played prior to the final of the Asiad. At
that time Royal did not have the sports complex and the Royal ruggerites
had to practice on the Ground at Keppetipola Mawatha opposite Sirimavo
Bandaranaike Vidyalaya and some of their home matches had to be played
at Henry Pedris Park.
I for one was not a ruggerite who played junior rugby, but my passion
for the sport drew me for practices without even the approval of my
parents. I had no regrets neither at the end of my schooling nor today
for my decision made a better team player, which I cherish even today.
The team bagged all the trophies on offer at that time, namely Major
Milroy Fernando Trophy against Isipathana College, Gunarathne Trophy
against St. Thomas’ College, Mt. Lavinia, Bradby Shield against Trinity
College, Kandy, R.Premadasa Trophy Inter-school Knockout Tournament.
Results of the matches are as
follows:-
Royal beat Dharmaraja (34-0), Royal beat Vidyartha (36-9), Royal beat
Ananda (18-3), Royal beat St. Peter’s(19-3), Royal beat Isipathana
(24-9), Royal beat S. Thomas’s (10-9), Royal beat St. Joseph ‘s (17-4),
Royal beat Zahira (42-0),Royal beat Trinity 1st leg (24-0), Royal beat
Nalanda (63-3), Royal beatTrinity 2nd leg (13-0)
Knockout Tournament for R.Premadasa Trophy Royal beat Wesley (13-11),
Royal beat Ananda (10-7), Royal beat Isipathana (13-3)
During the Hong Kong Tour - Royal beat Stanley fort Military Academy
(37-22), Royal beat Hong Kong combined schools team (8-6), These are the
special achievements during the year:- Lasitha Gunarathne (Cpt.)
represented the Sri Lanka Team as a school boy Shantha Fernando -leading
point scorer for the season which was a record. Tilak Silva - leading
try scorer of the season. The champion Team of 1988 is as follows:-
Mahima Wijesinghe (prop), Niroshan Jayasinghe (hooker), Madawa
Chandrasekara (prop), Janodha Thoradeniya(Vice Cpt.)(second row),Thilina
Balasuriya(second row), Ruwan Jayasuriya (flanker), Alfred Hensmen
(flanker), Lasitha Gunaratne (Cpt.)(no.8),Chanaka Senviratne (scrum
half) Sanjeewa Abeysinghe(fly half) Tilak Silva (wing three quarter),
Anura Dhammika (centre), Bruce Cameron (centre), Somesh Selvaratnam
(wing three quarter), Shantha Fernando(full back) Honorary Coach Dr.
Fred Perera Honorary Co-ordinating Coach Uddaka Tennekoon Master in
charge B.W.A.H.A. Weerasinghe. I believe there is no other Royal College
1st xv team that has won as many games as this all conquering team.
I would like to quote Legendary Royal College Rugby player, Rugby
Coach and The Founder Chairman of the Royal College Rugby Matches
Organizing Committee late Sidney G De Zoysa in his message to “Unbeaten
Royal College 1st xv Rugby Tour in 1988”
“This team is, in all the long period over which I have had the
pleasure of watching Royal win and lose their matches, absolutely
outstanding. They won every single match and ended up with a most
magnificent record. They well deserve all the praise and encouragement
that has been showered on them.
The outstanding feature of their games this year was that although
the captain played hard and led the team admirably, every player gave of
his best it was not a case of a few outstanding or brilliant individuals
setting the pattern. Every single member did his absolute maximum best
in the toughest of situation.This is how this year’s team came through
and well dese rves the honour of being considered the best team that
ever played for Royal.” |
