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THURSTAN CRICKET’s CROWNING SUCCESS

Post author By Editorial Team
Post date August 19, 2008
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SUCCESS

Category	OBSERVER / MOBITEL	LEMONADE SCHOOLBOY Contest by SLSCA	SUNDAY TIMES / BATA
All Island Best team	Thurstan	Thurstan	Thurstan
Schoolboy Cricketer of the year	Umesh Karunaratna	No award	——-
Schoolboy Cricketer of the year Runners-up	Geeth Kumara	No award	Umesh Karunaratna
Best Schoolboy Capt	———–	No Award	Umesh Karunaratna
Best All rounder	Geeth Kumara	Geeth Kumara	———————-
Best All rounder Runners-up	Umesh Karunaratna	————	——————————-
Best Batsman	———————	—————————-	Geeth Kumara
Best Bowler Runners-up	Umesh Karunaratna	Umesh Karunaratna	Umesh Karunaratna

This achievement by Thurstan Cricketers is unique. In the history of 30 years of Observer Schoolboy cricketer Contest starting from way back in 1979, two cricketers from the same school being nominated as the Best Schoolboy and Runner up and also the same duo in reverse rolls in the all rounder category and also Umesh being runner up in the Best bowlers category and thus taking 5 individual awards in a total of 11 individual awards at stake in the all Island category. This I believe is unparallel in this contest

The Icing in the cake is that THURSTAN was declared the best SCHOOL TEAM IN THE ALL ISLAND CATEGORY

Thurstan won 8 outright victories against, St Anthony?s Katugastota, St Mary?s Kegalle, St Thomas?s Mt Lavinia, Prince of Wales Moratuwa [Runners up team in the All Island Category], Revatha MV, Zahira Maradana, Maliyadeva Kurunagala & Mahanama

Thurstan was Coached by Dinesh Weerasinghe who has been with Thurstan for the last 4 years as the Senior coach looking after the 1^st & 2^nd XI and under 17 teams.

Taking the team to this level is no strange for Dinesh as he was able to achieve such successes when he was coaching Lumbini MV previously.

For Thurstan it was very big FIRST, having no ground for 52 years of playing 1^st XI cricket from 1953 to 2005. They had their practices in the quadrangle in the College for most of the 52 years and for few years at Nomads grounds and played most matches at the home grounds of the opponents as obtaining club grounds was difficult and expensive.

But with the development of their own grounds at Stanley Wijesundera Mawatha, which has 5 Centre turf wickets and a Centre matting and 8 practice turfs wickets and 4 practice matting wickets. The ground also has a underground sprinkler system, which is perhaps the first in a school ground, Thurstan were gradually able to build team of stature which could give a run to any of the ? bigger schools ? in the Island .

Thurstan cricketers were given the much needed infrastructure facilities to nurture & develop their skills. Facilities per say will not ensure cricketers of stature and match winning teams, there should be commitment by the cricketers themselves, they should be disciplined and follow the guidance provided by the coach.

This year the Thurstan Cricketers delivered what the whole Thurstan fraternity was looking for so many years.

Thurstan Cricketers were ably supported by THURSTAN CRICKET, the old Boy arm of the Thurstan OBU which provided the much needed funds and they were very firm that game was much bigger than any individual and the ? spirit of cricket ? should prevail at all times and discipline was sine quo non.

It is fitting that we the past cricketer and those old Boy?s who are lovers of cricket felicitate these young Thurstanites who have brought unprecedented credit to their Alma mater.

THURSTAN CRICKET has organized the following

Felicitation of the Cricketers at a function at SSC A/C Pavilion on Saturday August 23^rd ,2008 @ RS 1000/= per head
Audience with HE the President Hon Mahinda Rajapaksa in August
Recognition at the Annual Thurstan Dance on Sep 27^th, at WATERS EDGE which has theme ? Dancing on the Turf ?. This was primary to recognized Past Cricket Captains, but a new dimension has been added with so many awards won by Thurstan Cricketers
If we could find funds to send the team on a weeks visit to a neighboring country

We urge those Old Boy?s who are in Sri Lanka to participate at this function at SSC and others who are abroad to contribute in any way to make the TOUR a reality. If you have forgotten your team mates, the above 2 schedules will help you?ll to remember them

For any details, please contact the Following

Sirosha Gunatiilaka
Daminda Cooray
Priya Paranaviane

News Archive

Felicitation Ceremony for Mr. Jayantha Wickramaratne

Post author By Editorial Team
Post date August 7, 2008
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News Archive

VACANCY – Office Manager Thurstan College Old Boys’ Union

Post author By Editorial Team
Post date August 7, 2008
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Under 15 School Cricket Tournament 2008 – (UPDATES)

Post author By Editorial Team
Post date August 6, 2008
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UNDER 15 SCHOOL CRICKET TOURNAMENT 2008.
	DIVISION 1 TOURNAMENT
	THURSTAN ‘A’ WON 5 MATCHES IN A ROW

1	BEAT ASOKA M.V.BY FASTER RUN RATE
	TC189 ALL OUT IN 44.5 OVERS
	( ASHAN WANIGARATHNE 72, SAJEEWA SALGADO 33, NISALA MADUSANKA 24,
	D.S.PRABASHWARA 3/36, N.VIRAJ 2/26, H.N.ADIPOLA 2/37 )

	ASOKA 59/ 06 IN 23.3 OVERS
	(N.VIRAJ 26, CHAMATH JAYASEKARA 2/20 )

2	BEAT ST.JOHNS COLLEGE- NUGEGODA BY 262 RUNS
	TC 409/06 IN 50 OVERS
	( KAVINDA WIMALASIRI 25, ASHAN WANIGARATHNE 72, SAJEEWA SALGADO 208 N/O,
	MANOJ PERERA 29,U.JAYASHAN 2/83 )

	ST.JOHONS 147 ALL OUT IN 41.2 OVERS
	( G.R.WANNIARACHCHI 37, L.UDHARA 22, M.FERNANDO 32,
	SAJEEWA SALGADO 2/15,RAMINDU LAKSHAN 2/12 )

3	BEAT ST.THOMAS COLLEGE- KOTTE BY 07 WICKETS
	STC 139 ALL OUT IN 46 OVERS
	( R.Y.KULATHUNGA 39, C.T.KUMARA 29, PRAVEEN SAMARASINGHE 2/29,
	CHAMATH JAYASEKARA 2/20, SAJEEWA SALGADO 3/43 )

	TC 140/3 IN 30.1 OVERS
	( KAVINDRA TENNAKOON 46, ASHAN WANIGARATHNE 21,SAJEEWA SALGADO 46 N/O
	T.ULUWALUGE 2/37 )

4	BEAT SIRI PIYARATHANA ? PADUKKA BY 04 WICKETS
	SIRI PIYARATHANA 143 ALL OUT IN 44 OVERS
	(M.M.PANAGODA 32, P.D.DILSHAN 24,RAJITHA PERERA 4/24)

	TC 147/06 IN 32.4 OVERS
	( KAVINDRA TENNAKOON 32,MANULA JAYASEKARA 28 N/0,
	K.K.THANUKA 3/30, M.M.PANAGODA 2/34 )

5	BEAT PILIYANDALA CENTRAL BY 145 RUNS
	TC 259/ 9 IN 50 OVERS
	( KAVINDRA TENNAKOON 24, NISALA MADUSANKA 54, ASHAN WANIGARATHNE 33,
	SAJEEWA SALGADO 21, MANOJ PERERA 21, MANULA JAYASEKARA 43,
	THILANKA WITHANAYAKE 22, C.DEVAPURA 3/47,T.PERERA 2/16, U.HEWAVITHARANA 2/46)

	PC 114 ALL OUT IN 45.1OVERS
	( S.D.SILVA 22, T.N.MADDUMABANDARA 30, RAMINDU LAKSHAN 2/22,
	SAJEEWA SALGADO 2/20, ASHAN WANIGARATHNE 2/13 )





1	THURSTAN COLLEGE ‘B’ BEAT HINDU COLLEGE -COLOMBO BY 06 WICKETS
	Division 11 tournament, Played at Thurstan college grounds
	HC 161/ 08 IN 30 OVERS
	( A.YASODHARAN 40,Y.CAJAMUGAN 52, ISURU FERNANDO 3/21,
	LASITH PATHIRANA 3/23 )

	TC 162/4 IN 23.4 OVERS
	( ISURU CHAMIKA 26, THARINDU SILVA 41 N/0, SAHAN HEWAVITHARANA 22,)


2	THURSTAN COLLEGE ‘B’ BEAT ST.SEBASTIANS COLLEGE -KANDANA BY 13 RUNS.
	TC 125 ALL OUT IN 30.3 OVERS
	( SUPUN WADIMUNI 23, ISURU FERNANDO 33, K.C.SURANGA 4/28,
	W.A.DILSHAN 3/25, N.D.JANAKA 2/10 )

	ST.SEBASTIANS 112 ALL OUT IN 34.4 OVERS
	( P.S.MICHAEL 30, ARJUNA JAYASENA 5/28, LASITHA PATHIRANA 4/19)

News Archive Overseas Branches

ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING (UK)

Post author By Editorial Team
Post date August 6, 2008
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Thurstan College OBA (UK) wishes to notify its members that the Annual General Meeting will be held on Friday 15th August 2008 at 7pm.

AGM Venue,

Shangri-La
12 Mill House, Oxford Road
New Denham
Uxbridge
Middlesex UB9 4DQ

contact the Secretary for any further information.

Contact details:

Chitra – 07868 713969

Nanda – 07957 627192

Cricket News News Archive

Umesh Karunaratne -first Thurstanite to win coveted Observer -Mobitel award

Post author By Editorial Team
Post date July 23, 2008
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CRICKET AWARDS: Two captains – Umesh Karunaratne of Thurstan College and Dinesh Perera of Tissa MMV, Kalutara, both fine allrounders, were the proud winners of the two main awards in the 30th Observer-Mobitel Schoolboy Cricketer of the Year All-Island and Outstation awards respectively at the awards ceremony held on Friday night.

Umesh Karunaratne – the Captain of Thurstan College was the Schoolboy Cricketer of the Year All-Island and Dinesh Perera was the winner of the Outstation Schoolboy Cricketer of the Year.

They were picked by the panel of umpires from the Association of Cricket Umpires (Sri Lanka), Central Province Cricket Umpires Association, Southern Province Cricket Umpires Association and Association of Cricket Umpires, Sri Lanka Kandy Branch.

Umesh Karunaratne becomes the first Thurstanite to win the coveted honour of Schoolboy Cricketer of the Year. The 20-year-old Umesh also won two other individual awards – runner-up Best Bowler and Best All-rounder and Thurstan also won the award for the best teams and the team was captained.

The 20-year-old Umesh, an GCE Advanced Level student at Thurstan College came into cricket in a big way and has played cricket from the age of 11 years. He captained the under 13, under 17 and first eleven teams.

The annual ?Big? cricket encounters against Isipatana has brought him great joy as he played in three encounters and last year won the Best Bowler?s award and was also received the Man of the Match award in the limited-over encounter in the same year.

Besides playing for Thurstan, his talent has been recognised at higher level and as a 15-year-old he represented Sri Lanka Schools in an under 15 cricket tournament in Malaysia in 2004, then he played in a under 19 tournament in Bangladesh in 2005 and in 2006 in Malaysia 2007 in the under 19 Tri-Nation Tournament where Bangladesh and India too played besides Sri Lanka and then played in the under 19 Tri-Nation Tournament where Pakistan and England too played besides Sri Lanka and finally played for Sri Lanka in the under 19 World Cup Tournament in Malaysia this year.

His batting has been the highlight and this season, he has scored 506 runs which included five half centuries. He has also bagged 89 wickets with his right-arm off-spinners. His best ?bowl? has been 7 for 40 against Maliyadeva and in that game, he had a match haul of 13 for 81. He had five-wicket hauls on eight occasions and a match-bag of 10 wickets twice.

He was also in the Sri Lanka Schools spin clinic managed by former Sri Lanka player Ruwan Kalpage.

He paid a grateful tribute to his school authorities and parents for encouraging him in the game and to his coaches who helped him along.

(http://www.sundayobserver.lk/2008/07/20/spo12.asp)

Cricket News News Archive

Umesh and Dinesh take top honours

Post author By Editorial Team
Post date July 23, 2008
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Umesh Karunaratne (All-Island) of Thurstan College , Colombo and Dinesh Perera (Outstation) of Tissa Central College , Kalutara were adjudged the Observer-Mobitel Schoolboy Cricketers of the Year at the annual Mega Awards Show on Friday at the BMICH.

It was a night to remember as the most outstanding cricketers and teams of the 2007/08 inter-school season were presented with 34 glittering trophies and attractive cash awards at the 30th Observer-Mobitel Schoolboy Cricketer of the Year show, sponsored by Sri Lanka Telecom Mobitel and hosted by the Sunday Observer, Sri Lanka ?s flagship English newspaper with the largest circulation.

It was a star-studded night with former Observer Schoolboy Cricketer of the Year award winners ? Ranjan Madugalle, Arjuna Ranatunga, Sanath Jayasuriya and Muttiah Muralitharan adding colour to the much looked forward to event in the schools? sports calendar.

Chief guest Madugalle, who won the Observer Schoolboy Cricketer of the Year award in its inaugural year in 1979 and ICC?s Chief Match Referee, said one could be the most brilliant cricketer in the world but no one is above the game.

Minister of Media and Information Anura Priyadharshana Yapa, Minister of Sports and Public Recreation Gamini Lokuge, Chairman of Sri Lanka Cricket Arjuna Ranatunga, Chairperson of Sri Lanka Telecom/SLT Mobitel, Mrs. Leisha De Silva Chandrasena, ANCL Chairman Bandula Padmakumara and Sri Lanka Telecom Mobitel Chief Executive Officer Suren J. Amarasekera were the guests of honour.

Cricket News News Archive

OBSERVER-MOBITEL Schoolboy Cricketer of the Year 2008

Post author By Editorial Team
Post date July 23, 2008
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All-Island Contest

Schoolboy Cricketer of the Year – Winner Umesh Karunaratne (Thurstan College)

Runner-up: Geeth Kumara (Thurstan College)

Best Batsman – Winner: Madawa Warnapura (Nalanda)

Runner-up: Dimuth Karunaratne (St. Joseph’s College)

Best Bowler – Winner: Milan Fernando (S. Thomas’ College, Mount Lavinia)

Runner-up: Umesh Karunaratne (Thurstan College) Best Fielder: Winner: Dinesh Chandimal (Ananda College)

Runner-up: Chirantha de Silva (Isipathana College)

Best Allrounder – Winner: Geeth Kumara ( Thurstan College )

Runner-up: Umesh Karunaratne ( Thurstan College )

Best Captain – Winner: Ruwantha Fernandopulle ( St. Joseph ‘s College)

Outstation Contest

Schoolboy Cricketer of the Year – Winner: Dinesh Perera (Tissa MMV, Kalutara)

Runner-up: Chathuranga de Silva (St. Aloysius College, Galle)

Best Batsman: Winner: Sarath Rangana Silva (Panadura Royal College)

Runner-up: Sanath Sameera Silva (President’s College, Kotte)

Best Bowler – Winner: Dinesh Perera (Tissa MMV, Kalutara)

Runner-up: Keshava Eranga (St. John’s Nugegoda)

Best Fielder – Winner: Dinudu Jayatilleke (St. Aloysius College, Galle)

Runner-up: Chamath de Silva (President’s College, Kotte)

Best Allrounder – Winner: Nipuna Ranasinghe (Ibbagamuwa Central)

Runner-up: Chathuranga de Silva (St. Aloysius College, Galle)

Best Teams All-Island

Winner: Thurstan College , Runner-up: Prince of Wales College, Moratuwa

Southern Province

Winner: St. Aloysius College, Galle , Runner-up: Mahinda College , Galle

Central Province

Winner: St. Sylvester’s College, Runner-up : Kingswood College Best Up and Coming Team

Sri Rahula MMV, Alawwa

Popular Cricketers

Most Popular Schoolboy Cricketer of the Year – All Island : Ruwantha Fernandopulle ( St. Joseph ‘s College)

Runner-up: Naveen Kavikara ( D.S. Senanayake College )

Most Popular Schoolboy Cricketer of the Year – Outstation: Rashitha Dilan ( Bandaranayake College , Gampaha)

Runner-up: Shehan Silva ( Joseph Vas College , Wennappuwa)

News Archive Rugby

NEW update – Rugby History of Thurstan

Post author By Editorial Team
Post date July 15, 2008
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Rugby History of Thurstan

Thurstan’s rich and colorful rugby history is over 48 years old. History records that Thurstan began playing rugby in 1957. Thurstan was the second government school to take to rugby and from the inception started playing with all leading teams. To Surath Wickremasinghe goes the honor of leading the first Thurstan Rugby team.

Thurstan’s ascendancy to big league was in 1963, and enjoyed one of the finest seasons in the history with a historic win over Royal College at the University grounds. 1963 team was captained by Deepal De Zoysa a classy wing forward who later on played for CR&FC, captained Kandy SC and represented Upcountry. His co wing forward was Ranjith Jayawardena who was selected to lead the prestigious Colombo Schools team and later went on to represent Havelocks, University & Air force. Srinath Gunasekara (Captain ’64, represented Colombo Schools & University), Indra De Silva (Captain ‘65, represented Ceylon schools & coached Thurstan in 1968), Dushyantha Samarasekara (Captained CR&FC, Secretary SLRFU), Wimal Kulathunge CR&FC, E.K.R.Wijewardana (Police SC), Vernon Caldera (NCC) and Ananda Karunaratne were some of the other stalwarts of this team. Dushyantha Samarasekara was a tower of strength behind Thurstan Rugby and his contributions are well remembered. Srinath Gunasekara captained the 1964 team and he was an outstanding player in that era. Graetian Gunawardhana was the fly half of this team.

In the mid sixties Thurstan did not fare in top order but did well to retain their name as a fighting outfit. Not be outdone a galaxy of stars emerged from this era too. Sarath Fernando a dashing wing three-quarter who played for CR&FC, Sunil Jayakody a familiar figure in up country rugby who captained Dimbula for many years, Mangala Ratnayake who excelled for Army and later coached the college, Tissa Nanayakkara one of the best forwards (also with a fame for place kicks) produced by Thurstan. Tissa later played with distinction for CR&FC, Air Force and won his Ceylon Cap. After retirement from active playing he coached Thurstan for several years. Latter under the guidance of Tissa Nanayakkara and his brother Sisira Nanayakkara Thurstan got through to the semi finals of the presidents’ trophy in 1991.

Seventies saw the emergence of the players like Sisira Nanayakkara, Tissa Wickramanayake, Sumanasena brothers Mohan (represented Army) and Sudantha. Rienzie de Silva (Havelocks), Mervyn de Silva, Chula Dharmadasa and SK Karunathileke (CR&FC) with Geff Rutnam being the coach. Chula Dharmadasa and SK Karunathileke represented CR&FC with distinction and were worthy members of the Sri Lanka team that bagged the bowls trophy in the Hong Kong sevens. Chula Dharmadasa was a national selector and president of CR&FC. He latter coached Thurstan with his brother Vipula Dharmadasa.

In 1975 Thurstan drew with Isipathana under Tissa Wickramanayaka’s captaincy. This era saw number of Thurstanites donning the CR jersey and Sathyapriya Liyanage (later played for Army), G.L.Thilekerathne, R.L.Hewa and N.B.Ravindra and K.N.Sirikumara (captained Petersons) are few of the names.

Entry of Upali Hewage (captained ’68) as rugby convener in 1985 marked a rapid improvement and refinement in Thurstan Rugby. He was able to attract some of the best coaching talent like Vipula Dharmadasa, his brother Chula Dharmadasa, National Coach Ajith Abeyrathne, Nanayakkara brothers Tissa and Sisira, Senaka Kumarasinghe and Ajith Fernando. During this period Thurstan won against St Thomas Mt lavinia for the first time and defeated Royal in 1991 under Asela Weerasignhea (a nippy scrum half who played for Havelocks but gave up prematurely) and in 1992 under Ruwan Sirisena. Ajantha Rodrigo another star of this era played for Thurstan till 1990 & captained Police SC.

Thurstan featured prominently in almost all the senior and junior tournaments. In 1991 Thurstan qualified for the president’s trophy under the leadership of Asela Weerasinghe for the first time, and was unfortunate to loose to Ananada College in the semi finals in the penalty shootout. Since then Thurstan has played almost all the president trophy tournaments. Chaminda Samaranyake who played for Thurstan from 1889 to 1992, Played for CR&FC and latter for Police SC before injury kept him away from professional rugby. Latter he coached Thurstan in both junior & senior levels as an assistant coach.

In 1993 Thurstan under the leadership of Suranga Kulawickrama came close to a draw with the score reading 11 all with the their traditional rivals Isipathana only to loose out 18 to 11 with a try by Isipathana in the injury time. Ranjith Charles Peiris (who played as Fly half later played for CR&FC during the short period he played for club rugby), Rishan Thambidhorei (Captained ‘94), Lalindra Jinadasa & Viraj Prassana were some of the outstanding players in this team. And for the first time in Thurstan history the rugby match commentaries were given in the SLBC and Sunil Karunanayake shared the mike with Diyanesh Rajarathnam in this memorable encounter where rugby was seen at it’s best. The match was also memorable for the sporting gesture of Thurstan skipper Suranga Kulawickrama who stepped down for this match to give his deputy Lalindra Jinadasa to do the honors. Nishantha Welagedara the present captain of the Police SC is also a product of Thurstan.

In late nineties Thurstan rose up in school rugby arena and in 1997 Thurstan registered two superb wins over Royal College and St.Thomas college to reach the finals of the President trophy only to loose out to Isipathana in the finals. Both in 1996 & 1997 Thurstan reached Milo 10 A side tournament finals with Isipathana. Both this occasions Thurstan were unlucky to loose to Isipathana their traditional rivals in the finals. And finally in 1998 under the captaincy of Nuwan Kumara, Thurstan were able to topple Isipathana after 35 years and creamed up with winning the prestigious President’s trophy for the first time. Nuwan Kumara was later selected to play for Sri Lanka youth team and also played for CH&FC along with Kokum Senevirathne who ultimately won his Sri Lanka Cap. In 2000 Thurstan reached the semifinals of president trophy again beating Isipathana in the quarter finals, and lost St.Thomas in the semifinals. 2004 Thurstan team was captained by Sadun Kumara. Sadun Kumara presently plays for CR&FC.

Thurstan can really be proud of their Rugby history as they produced not only classy players but a galaxy of personalities who contributed immensely to the game in Sri Lanka. Geff Rutnam undoubtedly takes top billing as a Ceylon Captain (it was under Geffs’ captaincy that Ceylon scored her first ever international win against the Paris university’s club in 1970) and National Coach, Dushyantha Samarasekera was the secretary SLRFU/Asian Rugby Board and president of CR&FC, Sunil Jayakody National selector and President Dimbula A.C, Chula Dharmadasa National selector and President of CR&FC, Harsha Mayadunne President SLRFU.

In addition to the “Abdul Jabar Trophy” which is played with the traditional rivals Isipathana two more annual encounters for the “Diyanesh Rajarathnam Memorial Trophy” in 1998 with Wesley College and “Graetian Gunawardhana Challenge Trophy” in 2001 with D.S.Senanayake College were added to the Thurstan rugby fixture.

( Special thanks to Mr.Sunil Karunanayke for providing with the details of the Thurstan Rugby History)

Suranga Kulawickrama

Seceratry, Rugby Develpoment Committee

Junior Old Boys Union, Thurstan College, Colombo 7.

Cricket Big Match Cricket News News Archive

Thurstan Vs Isipathana 38th Encounter for the Abdul Jabbar Trophy match

Post author By Editorial Team
Post date July 15, 2008
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Thurstan Isipathana clash for the “Jabar” Trophy

Traditional Rivals Thurstan & Isipathana will clash for the annual Abdul Jabar shield on 26^th Thursday at the CR & FC grounds, this will be the 38^th encounter in the series that has been dominated by Isipatana from the inception. This year neither team is in the running for Championship honours which will make this game even more interesting. Excepting for 1975 where the match was drawn and in 2005 where Thurstan emerged victorious it has been Isipatana all the way. Thurstan & isipathana met each other for the first time in 1963 at the Havelock Park with Thurstan winning the match by 6 points to three. This was one of Thurstans finest seasons under the leadership of Deepal de Zoysa of CR & FC & Kandy SC fame. The honour of scoring the maiden try in the series rests with Vernon Caldera a Rugby player and cricketer of fame for Nondescripts Cricket club and the match winning drop goal was put over by Lionel Wickremasekera while Mantara scored Isipathana’s solitary try. In 1965 Isipathana under Ana Saranapala brought an end to Thurstan’s glory with a 17-0 win over a Thurstan team led by Indra Piyatissa that also had Sunil Jayakody (Dimbula), Sarath Fernando (CR & FC) and Srinath Gunasekera (University) at the CH & FC Grounds

In 1967 during the tenures of Principals P M Jayathileke (Thurstan) & Col G W Rajapakse (Isipathana) two distinguished educationists the match was elevated to a big match status for the Abdul Jabar Trophy. From the initial years this was a closely contested game, the inaugural match and the 1968 encounter were won by Isipathana with slender margins with Thurstan Place Kickers Tissa Nanayakkara and Diyanesh Rajaratnam missing vital penalties. However the period thereafter Isipathana displayed their superiority while Thurstan under the leadership of Tissa Wickramanayake drew 3 all in 1975. In 1993 Thurstan under Suranga kulawickrema almost turned the tables until Isipatana scrum half Bohoran stole a brilliant blind side try in the last minute to clinch the trophy. In 1998 Thurstan beat Isipathana in the presidents trophy knock out tournament but failed to wrest the “Jabar”. In 2005 Thurstan achieved their long cherished dream to engrave their name in the “Jabar” with a splendid win with skipper Amila Eranga playing a captains game.

Isipathana who began with a clean sweep in the sevens tournaments fared disastrously by losing to Trinity in their first encounter, though beating Royal Isipathana could not find their rhythm and failed to be in the contention for the league crown. Nevertheless Havelock town lads are a competent outfit with their skipper Dinesh Chaturanga and Vishwamitra Jayasinghe being outstanding players.

Thurstan who were relegated to B division enjoyed a moderate season winning four matches, drawing two and losing to group champs St Josephs & Ananda. It will be up to Thurstan Skipper Husseifa Adahan to come up with a improved performance and rise to the occasion on the big day. The commitment and dedication of.Thurstan’s Rugby committee comprising of past stalwarts Chula Dharmadasa, Milinda Ratnayake, Rear.Admiral Harsha Mayadune Suranga Kulawickrema and Mohan Fernando certainly promises a bright future for these lads who are yet forced to practice on their makeshift Ground of sorts at Thurstan Road

Ranjit Jayewardene a member of Deepal de Zoysa’s record breaking Thurstan team of 63 will be a special guest along with Wimal Kulatunga another of his team mates. Ranjit Jayawardena who paired off with Deepal de Zoysa as a wing forward Captained Colombo Schools in 1963 and was a leading member of the Havelocks Championshi, team of 1964 occupying the third row with Noel Brohier and Gamini Fernando. Ranjit was also selected to play for Ceylon Barbarians. Latterly he played for the University and Air Force. Wimal Kulatunga represented CR & FC in the mid sixties

Sunil Karunanayke.