S. Thomas’ looking to end among top four

By M. Shamil Amit   

S. Thomas’ College Mt. Lavinia one of the long standing rugby playing schools have had the honour of producing top notch players will look forward to give off their best in this season and will be looking forward to end among the top four teams of the Under 19 schools rugby tournament which kicked off last week.   
Though they began their campaign on a losing note having undergone a defeat at the hands of Trinity they are not deterred with that as they look forward to amend their mistakes and are aiming to bounce back.   
Last year the sea side boys were unable to make any impression and in aiming to achieve their target the side led by center Yehan Bulathsinghalage along with three of the experience players deputy skipper Akesh Fernando, Reshane Dwight and Venuka Wickramasuriya will be looking to put their best foot forward in fulfilling their campaign.   
This season the Thomians are drawn with tough teams in the likes of Isipathana, DSS, Science and St. Anthony’s apart from Trinity to whom they lost. However along with the top four players in the team they will strive to go further than the sixth position that they ended at the end of the league assignments last season and will be seeking to qualify for the Cup segment which will be fought out by the top teams of the two groups.   
Spearheaded by one of the top rugby players of yesteryear Suranga Walpola who has taken over and in his first year will be seeking along with his assistants Dev Ananda, Dinesh Kumara, Sachitha Jayatileke and Dion Diaz for sure will leave no stone unturned to achieve their feat of ending among the top four sides this season. Likewise the Thomians have not won a major title for nearly two decades with the last league title win being in the year 2000 when the side was led by Gavin Jayasekera.   
The Thomians will next travel to the hill capital Kandy where they are scheduled to confront St. Anthony’s and they are slotted to play four matches in their home grounds with one against Science College at Ratmalana and the other against former champions Isipathana at Havelock Park.

S. Thomas’ College Rugby Pool 2024:

Forwards – Akesh Fernando (Vice Captain), Reshane Dwight, Kaveesh Lenagala, Meon Ranjithsingh, Tieshya Aluwihara, Sithil Perera, Shalyn Wanigasooriya, Eyan Pereira, Yenuka Bopearachchi, Panduka Jayasena, Rometh Wijesinghe, Zayan Hameed, Shaveen Gooneratne, Mckyle Karunaratne, Jehan Wanigasooriya, Rehan Jayaweera, Vishwa Ariyawansa, Jeison Gnanadass, Amaan Imran, Shevin Udugama, Dehan Senaratne, Muadh Kaleel   
Backs – Yehan Bulathsinghalage (Captain), Venuka Wickramasuriya, Jehan Jayasinghe, Seneshka Liyanagunawardana, Pujana Kasthuriarachchi, Akith Cooray, Chamod Perera , Chanuth Eheliyagoda, Mayanka Dias, Udan Bulathsinghalage, Archer Mendis, Joel Cameron   
Head Coach – Anuranga Wal[pola Assistant Coach – Dineh Kumara. Kicking Coach – Dev Anand. Physio – Chanaka Sanjeewa 

League Fixtures:

June 22: vs St. Anthony’s at Mt Lavinia   
June 30: vs Science College at Ratmalana   
July 6: vs Isipathana at Havelock Park   
July 13: vs DSS at Mt. Lavinia   
July 20: vs Sri Sumangala at Mt. Lavinia   
July 28: vs Dharmaraja at Mt. Lavinia