The final week of the schools league is now upon us. We’ve had a season filled with all kinds of drama, some unpleasant stuff, but in terms of the quality of rugby, that certainly has gone up a notch or two from last year.
We couldn’t have wished for a more fitting ‘finale’. As was the case last season, we have two unbeaten sides going up against each other in a ‘winner takes all’ contest. Isipathana are in familiar territory having been in the same position last season. Only, they will hope to go one better, as they were beaten to the trophy by Bhanuka Gamage’s Royalists in 2015. Their contenders – S. Thomas’ College are enjoying one of their best seasons in recent times. Incidentally, both teams met in the finals of the sevens earlier this year, where the Thomians turned the tables on their more fancied opponents with a last gasp try to claims their first sevens crown in 22 years.
There have been many classic Thomian-Pathana clashes over the years, commencing from the 1960’s. Some of my earliest memories are of those definitive games in the early 90’s when Thomian rugby was at the height of its powers. Then in 1996 Vajira Hewage’s side, that boasted the likes of the Mallikaarchchi brothers, Thushara Theidiman and Shamly Nawaz, got the better of the Thomians to with the league, as well as the knock-out. Games between the two sides were few and far between, till 2009, when Shaveen Kapuwatte’s charges beat the Havelock Town side twice, with the second one being in the final of the President’s trophy. Since then it has gone the way of Isipathana, as the Mount Lavinia outfit has struggled to keep pace with the front runners.
However, come Saturday, history will count for nothing. Having lost as many as eleven players from last year’s star studded line up, few considered Isipathana to be a realistic threat at the start of the season. However, Kushan Indunil’s side started off with a bang, thumping Dharmarajah in the first game, and haven’t looked back since. In fact, this side just kept getting better and better as the season progressed. During the first round, I was a bit skeptical of the ‘Green shirts’, as I felt they were in the easier of the groups, in terms of the quality of the opposition. But even the most cynical critic had to wake up and take note when they pulverized a decent Wesley team at the commencement of the second round. Playing fast, open rugby is second nature to them. Kushan Indunil and Sumudhu Rankothge are easily the best centre paring in schools rugby.
They complement each other perfectly well. Indunil is the more physical of the two, crashing through when needed, or just drawing the defense and unleashing Rankothge on the outside. The latter was absolutely outstanding against Royal last weekend. Sheer pace aside, his support play in attack saw him score a scorcher of a try. They also have plenty of gas out wide with Chamod Fernando and Ranidu Padmasanka scoring tries for fun this year. However, to set your threes in motion you need front foot ball, and the Isipathana forward pack has done a fantastic job in laying that foundation. Collectively, they’re not the biggest around, but they do punch way above their weight.
Henry Terrence deserves a lot of plaudits for this. Number eight Vageesha Weerasinghe epitomizes this resolve. A pretty small made chap for a forward, Vageesha is everywhere and a constant thorn in the flesh of the opposition. It will be interesting to see how this forward pack copes with their heavier, more robust, and direct rivals.
Nilfer Ibrahim is a seasoned campaigner. He knows his team will have to shift the ball out wide, and play the game at a high tempo to keep the Thomians at bay. They will not be able to outmuscle them. The wide channel is where they will go.
After a few testing years of battling to stay afloat, S.Thomas’ is enjoying one of their finest seasons. They have had a bit of luck along the way, but the quality of rugby they have dished out has been admirable. A perfect blend of power and pace. Naveen Hena’kankanamage, dubbed the ‘Thomian flash’ has been in scintillating form leaving his opposite number clutching thin air on many occasions. He proved the match winner against arch rivals Royal, and has had a perfect warm up for the final game, having scored a brace against Science College last weekend
Skipper Pandula De Silva has led the team from the front, and is one of their main ball carriers. Sachitha Jayathilake has also raised his game at the back of the scrum and has proved a handful for defenders to contain.but he might be out of the game with the injury he picked up last week against Science College. This Thomian side is unrelenting in attack, with big forwards charging at you from different points of attack. That is how they have put teams away. This has provided the outside backs – Naveen, and Mayon Jayawardena with plenty of holes to exploit in a tiring defense.
Coach Laga will expect his boys to dominate the set pieces. The line outs are crucial. Pathana were outstanding in this aspect last week, as they foiled a lot of Royal ball. When defending, they will have to ensure they give Pathana bad ball, whether it be in the scrums, or lineouts. A key player for me will be utility playmaker Dhanuja Wijeratne. I thought his physicality made the difference in the sevens, and his opponents will know full well of what he is capable of. It will be interesting to see where Laga plays him this week.
A critical success factor of the modern game is the strength of the bench, and the impact players you have on hand to bring on. This is what made the difference when the All Blacks managed to thwart a brave Wales challenge at Eden Park last week. This could well prove to be the deciding factor on Saturday as well. The season has been ridiculously long, and there will definitely be some tired, battered bodies lining up. Mind you, they’re playing all four second round games on the bounce. I believe both teams are fairly well resourced with reinforcements when needed.
If both teams are allowed to play, we can be certain of an absolute blockbuster at the CR&FC this Saturday. I have two wishes. One is that whoever is tasked with being the referee keeps in mind that the public in attendance and those watching from all parts via streaming, are tuning in to see these boys display their talents and not to see him blow his whistle. The other is that the crowd behaves responsibly. It is possible to cheer your team with every bit of gusto, and in the process yet not offend anyone or disrupt proceedings. Do keep in mind that these are schoolboys, about to experience one of the biggest days of their lives. Let’s not spoil it for them.
May the better team prevail!
