St. Anthony’s College, Katugastota with fifteen senior players in their ranks are hoping for better things in the coming inter-school rugby season. They took up to rugby long after the school introduced sports like cricket, boxing, hockey, football and athletics. Only in the 1950’s did the Antonians take to the oval ball and Bruce Winter became their first rugby captain. A big hand should go to their great coach of that era, old Trinitian Bobby Jayaweera who spared no pains to teach the Antonians how they should handle the oval ball. Later Maurice Perera helped in coaching the Antonians. From the day, they touched the oval ball, the game became very popular. In the early days, it remained just an introduction of the game for quite some time, with no signs of attracting the enthusiasm of youthful Antonians. Though they started rugby in the 1950’s it was only in 1961 that unprecedented enthusiasm was created and rugby received a big boost and backing from all quarters. Particularly at its inception, many of the leading schools provided the Antonians with 2nd XV fixtures. It was only in 1962 that the Antonians were able to play against the 1st XV teams.
In fact, that was the first time that Katugastota ruggerites played Trinity, Royal and S. Thomas’s senior teams. They were led by Win Chu Wei, the rest of players were Kenny Duff-Tytler, brothers Upali and Ranjith Fernando, Winston Vanderpooten, Chris Duff-Tytler, Barney Daniel, brothers Charlie and Michael Joseph, Franklyn Paul, Spencer Dias, Tutu Thenuwara, Christy Gomez, lan Fernando, Freddie Baptist. Then in 1963 and 1964 Antonians did well in rugby under Ranjith Fernando and Saliya Kulatunge. Both were selected to play for the Outstation Schools’ team against the Colombo Schools’.
Although the 1965 and 1966 teams, led by Michael Macky and Patrick Gunaratne respectively, did not fare well, they nevertheless maintained a high standard of rugby. Despite not having a regular coach, the 1967 team captained by Basil Hyde, fared quite well, winning only one game and losing eight. Four members of this 1967 team namely Basil Hyde, Malcolm Dias, H.M. Kuthdoos and Randy Sims, won their rugby colours for their outstanding performances during the season.
It was in 1968 that Antonian rugby showed real maturity, when, for the first time, the team led by H.M. Kuthdoos held the much fancied Trinitians to a 3-all draw at Peradeniya in a block-buster game. In that season St Anthony’s won 6 matches beating much fancied teams like St. Joseph’s, Royal, St. Peter’s, St. Benedict’s and S. Thomas’, and lost two matches and drew two.After quite a long wait, Antonian rugby enjoyed one of the finest years in 1972 when for the first time they beat Trinity College 13-7 in a nail-biting finish. That year the Antonians were coached by the famous Havelock SC, Kandy Lake Club and Sri Lanka center three quarter Maurice de Silva. Credit should go to E.W.Balasuirya for bringing Maurice to Kandy. The side led by Tuan Dole won seven games against, St. Joseph’s, St. Benedict’s, Kingswood, S. Thomas’, Thurstan and Trinity, and drew with St. Peter’s and lost to Royal.
Antonians have produce some top players with Priyantha Ekanayake standing tall above everyone.
He is first Antonian to captain the Sri Lanka rugby team, and that too for a record ten consecutive years. He also had the privilege of leading the national team to four consecutive Asiads a record yet to be broken.
Antonians this year are in Group II A with schools like St .Joseph’s College, Isipathana College, Trinity College, Zahira College, St. Anthony’s College and Science College. The groupings are based on last year’s positions in the Schools Rugby League. Their first game is with Isipathana at Nittawela, followed by Trinity at Pallekelle, Science at Nittawela and Zahira in Colombo,
According to their new coach, Ronnie Ibrahim who started his rugby at Kingswood College they are fielding a young and talented side. The seniors in their ranks are 5th year player Mohamed Makrim, the captain who is one of the best fly halveas, his deputy no. 8 forward Lashan Mahindaratna who is also in his 5th year. Others are 4th year players prop Shashika Wijewardeana, Ruvan Amarasinghe who can fit in as lock and flank forward, Suhail Waseem scrum half, Niranjan Ranaweera wing-three-quarter, Theeksha Gunasinha fly half, fullback or scrum half, Kavishka Jayasooriya center three quarter, and flank forward Nihan Perera.
The third year players are lock forward Mathish Amerasinghe, Thushara Ekanayake who can play as wing-three-quarter and fullback, and Roshan Selvaraj flank forward. Isuru Ariyapala flanker this will be in his 2nd year along with other second year players like prop forward Peresy Ambrose and Mathish Amarasinghe.
Their coaching staff comprises coach Ronny Ibrahim, Piyumal Manchanyake handling the forwards, and Pradeep Liyanage the backs.
The team manager will be Arunda Ranasingha and MIC Wasantha Jayasundara. They have formed a new rugby board where principal Rev. Fr. Henry Wijeratne is the patron and Priyantha Ekanayake the director rugby. The Board members are Christy Joshua, Jude Pillai, Annul Mendis, Rohan Daulagala, and Roshan Dhammika.
Add new comment