D. S. Senanayake - a force to be reckoned with

D. S. Senanayake College Rugby Pool 2024 
(Pix by Nisal Baduge) 

By M. Shamil Amit

D. S. Senanayake College in the last three to four years have shown their prowess in the schools rugby arena and since they came into the top division last year they have shown their capabilities and today they are one of the feared sides in schools rugby. 

In the first year of their promotion last year, they put in a fine display and in the process they recorded stunning wins against some established sides in the likes of Kingswood, Wesley, St. Anthony’s and S. Thomas’ but unfortunately the defeat to St. Joseph’s in the final put paid their chances of qualifying to the Super Round.
But this time D. S. Senanayake, led by Shehanda Umagiliyage - who was one of their match winning players last year - are determined to achieve that feat and in preparation they began their campaign by recording a well-deserved 44-12 win against Dharmaraja College in the first match played in Kandy.

Although they have lost a fair number of players who did service for them last year, they have the players who are capable of steering the side to a winning position. 

Apart from Skipper Shehanda, the other players to make note of will be deputy skipper Thiven Perera, Janidu Gimhana, Omika Lison, Lankesh Wickramasinghe, Thimath Jithnula and Malith Samarakoon.

Asela Deshapriya is their Head Coach for the past five years with Samod Madulanka as the Assistant Coach, Ashane Dassanayake as the Forwards Coach, Azmir Fajudeen (who led Havelock SC last season) as the Skill Development Coach, Charith Seneviratne as the Kicking Coach, Dinesh de Silva as the Back Division and Skill Development Coach. 

D. S. Senanayake have six matches to be played and all will be in Colombo with three matches at Havelock Park and one each at Ratmalana, Mount Lavinia and Sugathadasa Stadium in Colombo.

D. S. Senanayake Rugby Pool 2024:

Forwards: Thiven Perera (Vice-Captain), Omika Lison, Chamod Dewmith, Sahas Balasooriya, Chenitha Weligamage, Pathum Peiris, Navida Hettiarachchi, Chamudu Weerasinghe, Lankesh Wickramasinghe, Methila Peiris, Praveen Lakmal, Tharuth Shenal, Sanu Perera, Geethma Methul, Yerash Bumuddaka, Buddhi Peiris, Thimath Jithnula, Chamika Gimhana, Sathila Rumeth, Yuhas Balasooriya, Mohommad Ihsan
Back Division: Shehanda Umagiliyage (Captain), Janidu Gimhana, Malith Samarakoon, Malan de Mel, Sandeep Lakshan, Rasindu Bandara, Mohommad Sabeer, Chamith Nilusha, Thenula de Silva, Kinith Gimhan, Pawan Lihara, Dushal Ayeshmantha, Tatheera Dahamdiv, Lithium Weerasinghe and Yasanda Dinan.

League fixtures:

June 22 v Trinity at Havelock Park.
June 28 v St. Anthony’s at Havelock Park.
July 7 v Science College at Ratmalana.
July 13 v S. Thomas’ at Mount Lavinia.
July 21 v Isipathana at Sugathadasa Stadium.
July 27 v Sri Sumangala at Havelock Park.