Last charge and Thurstan's day of glory and triumph

For many generations of Thurstanites beating Isipathana in Rugby was more than a dream but year in year out it was not to be. However for rejuvenated Thurstan's youthful rugby brigade who made their intentions serious from the beginning it was a dream come true and mission accomplished.

Hanging on to a slender two point lead Thurstan were yet not comfortable in sighting that exclusive victory, then out of the blues Thurstan winger Shane Aravinda collects the ball in his own half and darts across by passing many helpless Isipathana defenders for well over 70 metres to plant a brilliant try under the posts to put the icing on the cake to wrest the Jabar Shield from Isipathana for the first time in the history.

To Thurstanites young and old it was a more than a victory and their uncontrolled joy and emotion had no bounds such was their unlimited, justifiable well-earned ecstasy after 37 painful years.

The finish was yet another page from the fiction, no different to the '93 fixture where Isipathana's Bohoran snatched a draw or a near victory away from Thurstan to score a blind side try to make them victors in the last minute. Such was Isipathana's invincibility for nearly four decades. Closest Thurstan came was a draw in 1975 under Tissa Wickramanayake and in '98 under Nuwan Kumara they beat Isipathana in the Presidents Trophy but succumbed to defeat in the "Jabbar".

Thurstan and Isipathana had many things in common, they were post independence government schools created to absorb the overflow from Royal, Thurstan took up to rugby in 1958 and Isipathana in 1963 and the two schools met for the first time in '63.

It was one of Thurstan's finest years in rugby under the leadership of late Deepal de Zoysa having conquered many top teams and the score line read and obvious 6-3 in favour of Thurstan. Isipathana's rugby revival came in 65 under Ana Saranapala in a team that was coached by welsh international Mike Davis where they beat Thurstan 17-0 at the CCC Grounds. The 66 match at CR was a thriller where Isipathana scored a close 6-3 win over Thurstan captained by Sunil Jayakody.

In 1967 too it was a close game where Thurstan captained by Mangala Ratnayake lost narrowly Isipathana. In 1968, the match was elevated to big match status and the Abdul Jabbar Trophy was on offer to the winners. The two captains were Upali Hewage (Thurstan) and Juranghan Savanghan (Isipathana) and the match was closely contested and won by Isipathana with Thurstan paying dearly for sending two kickable penalties astray by their play maker Diyanesh Rajarathnam.

This was the beginning of Isipathana's glorious era of rugby that went on to produce a multitude of national players, club captains, referees and administrators and also winning every possible championship. They also earned fame for their run and pass game which gave a new lease of life to school rugby. Save for seasons of 2004 and 2005 they have maintained their supremacy and one hopes they will soon recover from the lean spell to be back in the top league.

Thurstan too boasts of a proud rugby history in having contributed to the development in rugby in Sri Lanka through Jeff Ratnam (Ceylon captain and national coach), Dushyantha Samarasekera (Secretary SLRFU and President CR & FC), Cdr. Harsha Mayadunne (President SLRFU) and Chula Dharmadasa (President CR & FC).

Though not staying on top consistently Thurstan remained in the big league for many years and lot of credit goes to their coaches Asanga Rodrigo, Gamini Indrasena, Vipula Dharmadasa (a force behind Thurstan for nearly two decades) and the indefatigable past captain Suranga Kulawickrema and his team for the well earned and historic triumph.

Thurstan rugby foundation over the years was fortified by many old Thurstanite stalwarts and country's leading rugby personalities like Dushantha Samarasekera, Tissa and Sisira Nanayakkara, Senaka Kumaraisnghe, Upali Hewage, Suren Abeygunasekera, Chula Dharmadasa, Ajith Fernando and Vasantha Ramanayake to name a few.

With their promotion to the 'A' Division and with support from the coaches, sponsors and well-wishers Thurstan should be a force to be reckoned with in the future.

This year's encounter also marked the end of the Inter-School Rugby League in a season that saw good quality rugby being displayed. Thurstan along with the strongest team in the tournament St. Anthony's will move up to the Premier Group next year. This was also the season that brought back the glory of rugby and spectator interest after many lack lustre seasons. Thurstan-Isipathana match was a fitting tribute to this glorious season.

Thurstan captain Amila Eranga will certainly be a hero in the Thurstan history for performing the impossible. Undoubtedly Thurstan played good clean rugby and fully deserved this historic victory to Shane Aravinda who electrified the atmosphere with a superb last minute try this will be an unforgettable day in his life.

This youngster who wrote a piece of history with his "last charge" once again brought back to our minds that "Gem" of Henry Newbolt in the famous "Best School of All".... And where's the wealth I'm wondering could buy the cheers that roll, when the last charge goes thundering towards the twilight goal.

- Sunil Karunanayake