St. Joseph’s undeterred, will bounce back

St. Joseph’s College Rugby Pool 2024 (Pix by Nisal Baduge) 

By M. Shamil Amit   

St. Joseph’s had an inauspicious start to the Under 19 inter-schools rugby season when they underwent a defeat to Vidyartha which also was also the first match of the tournament. But they are undeterred as they will strive to remedy their shortcomings and will make an effort to fight and bounce back with six more matches to be played before the super round gets underway.   

So the setback is not going to dash their hopes because the tournament has a long way to go, but on the other side they are at a disadvantage as they have lost many of the players of the previous year, but the side guided by one of the most experienced coaches along with assistants and led by No 8 Vishika Fernando will leave no stone unturned to achieve the goals that they are aiming.   

Skipper Fernando with four more senior players in the side in deputy Janith Marasinghe, Beeshama Jayasekera, Senithu Uthumange and Ivano White for sure will need to put in their best foot forward along with the young aspirants if they are seeking to make a comeback.   

The Josephians who have been training hard since early this year and has mentioned will be banking on young aspirants from whom much will be expected to fulfil their aim of laying the hands on the league title but they have won the knockout once in the year 2017 when they defeated Isipathana and have been runners up twice in 2018 losing to traditional rivals St. Peter’s and in 2022 to Isipathana.   

However their next assignment against Zahira is going to be crucial and the final outcome of this could see where they stand if they are seeking to make any impression.   

St. Joseph’s College Rugby Pool 2024 

Forwards - Vishika Fernando (Capt), Sithanga Liyanage, Mindulka Perera, Hemish Gamage, Aaron Bandara, Tiran Wijegoonawardana, Canisius John, Sathira Gunathilake, Ashen Minura, Pramod Kavinthe, Sandesh Induwara, Dinath Tharin, Inosh Silva, Janith Marasinghe (V. Capt), Shehath Malinda, Denistan Croos, Oshala Silva, Adeesha Perera, Thisath Thewnila, Isuru Chathuranga   
Backs - Ivano White, Nathan Guneratne, Bryan Fernando, Jithara Peiris, Senithu Uthumange, Joel Ranasinghe, Chirath Chandupa, Senuja Geeran, Thevan Kithnuka, Malshan Dewmin, Akash Gomez, Beeshma Jayasekera, Sasindu Kariyawasam, Adriano Candappa, Tharusha Jayasuriya   
Head Coach – Nilfer Ibrahim. Assistant Coach – Dulanjana Mendis. Kicking Coach – Samuel Maduwantha. Trainer – Naveendra Dayan. Master in Charge – Prashantha Ranaweera.   

League fixtures:
June 22 vs Zahira at Maradana   
June 28 vs Thurstan at Ratmalana   
July 5 vs Wesley at Havelock Park   
July 23 vs St. Perer’s at Royal Complex   
July 18 vs Royal at Havelock Park   
July 26 vs Kingswood at Havelock Park