HISTORIC WIN FOR THURSTAN
September 19th, 2005 will go down memory lane as a historic day for rugby at Thurstan. For all Thurstanites there was a dream !! – to beat Isipathana at the Annual Abdul Jabbar Trophy. This dream had eluded Thurstan rugby players for 38 long years, but on this day 15 lads made this dream a reality.
Yes, Thurstan beat Isipathana 15 points [ one goal, one try & one penalty ] to 6 [ two penalties ]
The closest that Thurstan had come was a draw in 1975 under Tissa Wickramanayaka, but Thurstan had twice beaten Isipathana in 1998 & 2000 at the President’s Trophy and also in 1963 in the infancy of rugby at both colleges when it was not played for a trophy.
There was much drama before the game itself, when the Old boy Rugby section of both schools could not agree on the venue for the match. But saner counsel prevailed and it was ultimately agreed that this traditional game was much more important for the two schools and for the set of players of both teams than other trivia.
Both Schools had much to play for. The winner was assured of a place on this year’s President’s trophy and also promotion to Division 1 next year.
Hence the game had all the ingredients of a tight match with no quota asked & none given.
The rugby players of both teams did not disappoint the large crowd that thronged Longden Place to witness this game with clean ferocious play.
Thurstan opened scoring within the first 5 minutes when they worked the three quarter line and drawing the Isipathana defense and a perfectly timed grubber kick was chased by the two Thurstanite centres and Thilina Lakmal scored mid right towards the CR hockey ground end. Thurstan place kicker Dilan Perera’s kick just veered out of the left upright and Thurstan was leading 5 points to Nil.
Next 20 minutes saw play between the 25 meter mark of the two halves, each team trying to probe the defenses of the other but not successful in penetrating it. Almost on the stroke of half time, Isipathana were awarded a penalty for an infringement 30 meters out almost at the centre which the Full back Reza Mubarak duly obliged. At the breather Thurstan were leading 5 points to 3.
Soon after resumption, Thurstan missed a golden chance to increase the lead when Dilan Perera fluffed an under the post penalty 30 meters out much to the disappointed of the Thurstanites.
Thurstanites were really dominating the game in this half, both territorially and with some threatening moves, but mistakes at vital moments deprived them of scoring opportunities which were there for the taking
In one of the rare moments when Isipathana took play to the Thurstan half, a missed clearance by the Thurstan full back Munna & at the subsequent melee, Isipathana were awarded a penalty almost at the same place where Thurstan place kicker missed the conversion. But Isipathana place kicker was spot on and Isipathana were leading for the first time with 6 to 5 with about 10 minutes to full time.
With Isipathana taking the lead with only a few minutes to go, thought were haunting the Thurstan supporters – will this be another year ” so near but yet so far ” as in the mid 90’s when Thurstan leading till the very last minute saw Boran the illusive Isipathana scrum half picking the ball from a scrum mid way and slipping one tackle after another to score a match winning try under the post.
But this year the Thurstanites were made of much sterner stuff, and they kept hammering at Isipathana line & were awarded a penalty mid left on the 25 meter line. When Dilan Perera placed the ball and took steps back to steady himself for the kick, players as well as the supporters were all glued & biting their finger nails to see whether his kick will go between the post or kick awry as he had done on 2 occasions already in the match. But this time he got it dead centre much to the relief of all the Thurstanites and Thurstan were leading 8 points to 6 with less than 5 minutes of play including injury time remaining before the referee Orville Fernando will blow for full time.
Isipathana were not going to go down without a fight and immediately took play to the Thurstan 25 in front of the CR Pavilion and worked the line to the left winger who was bottled up near the touch line. In the ensuing melee, Thurstan right winger, the tall Shane Aravinda picked up the ball virtually out of the blues and ran a good 75 meters along the right touch line evading desperate tackles from 2 Isipathanians and once he crossed the touch line ambled along to touch down under the post and bury the traditional rivals and to put the issues beyond doubt. This try was converted for Thurstan to lead 15 Points to 6.
Within a few minutes after the Kick off, full time was blown and throngs of Thurstanites both old & young swamped the ground to hug the 15 lads who all made this possible.
Thurstan fully deserved the victory as they looked the side always on the look out for tries as Isipathana cut a sorry figure with their outside backs playing senseless rugby much to the disappointment to their supporters and the two coaches Hisham Abdeen & Champika Nishantha. Only their forwards made forages but were stopped by a determined pack ably lead by the Skipper Amila Eranda who was in the thick of things and urging the team mates to drive towards the Isipathana goal line. He has had a fine season and will join the select band of Thurstanites who had been successful in sports as well as in academic studies as he has passed his AL’s with 2 A’s & a B.
The most happiest person on the ground could have well being the Chief Guest, Thurstan Old Boy Noel Joseph who was mainly instrumental in arranging the Sponsorship from the Orange Group of Companies for RS 1 Million for Thurstan Rugby for 2005 & 6.
Orange Group too must be happy they have backed a winning team
There were many behind the success of the team. First, the two coaches, Gamini Indrasena former Isipathana & Havelocks player & Asanga Rodrigo the current Sri Lanka & CR player, former Royal & CR Player Vipula Dharmadasa was always at hand to give some valuable expert advice.
Thurstan OBU handed the destinies of Thurstan Rugby to the Junior OBU and they formed Junior OBU Rugby Development Committee headed by Sujeewa Perera with the Rugby Captain of 1993 Suranga Kulawickrama as the secretary.
Their credo was to ” Honour & Glory ” and the Vision was to revive Rugby at Thurstan and thus be among the best in schools & their Primary Mission was to win the Abdul Jabbar Trophy. This they have been successful in the first year itself. For this I am sure they have sweated much, many trials & tribulations and they were also successful in obtaining for the first time Sponsorship for any Sports at Thurstan.
You could feel the joy & happiness of the committee members when the final whistle was blown.
There were many Rugby Captains & players of yesteryear to witness this historic achievement and I am sure their eyes would have become moist as this team of 2005 achieved what was becoming ” mission impossible ” to win the Abdul Jabbar Trophy, which eluded them when they represented College. This series of matches commenced in 1967 under the captaincy of Managla Ratnayaka [ now domiciled in New Zealand ] for Thurstan & Juranghan Savangan for Isipathana, both being dashing wing forwards for their respective Schools and Savangan after college played with much distinction for Police. This match for the trophy was played continuously except in 1972 when Isipathana did not play Rugby due to a ruling by the SLRFU. Thus in 38 outings, Isipathana has won 36 times, one being drawn and the loss this year.
Priya Paranavitane