Let us roll back into seven years in the 21st century, when Trinity College won their last under 14 cup championship under the captaincy of the splendid Tarinda Ratwatte and then in 2015 Tehan Karunanayake had that same privilege.
The Trinity College Under 14 rugby team became the cup champions of the 12 a side rugby tournament organized by Sri Lanka Rugby Football Association sponsored by Nestle Milo. Trinity annihilated St. John’s Nugegoda and Wesley College Colombo 15- nil and 24-nil respectively in the first round and went on defeating Kingswood College in the quarter final with a score of 3-nil. Trinity reserved their place in the final with a bang defeating the Isipathanians 19-nil.
ThePapare.com spoke to coach Gavithra De Soyza who added a few words about the team’s success,
‘We came up as a family this time. As a family we are happy about what we did. Captain Tehan Karunanayake did his part well while vice captain Minidu Jayasuriya and team mates gave a good support to him’
The hill country lads faced S. Thomas’ College in the final and coincidentally S. Thomas’ were the only team to beat Trinity in a league match this season.
Coach De Soyza added, ‘My boys were fiercely waiting to beat Thomas as they defeated us in league and we got that chance’
Tharusha Kulasinghe scored the first try of the deciding game to take up the lead in first half for Thomians. After few minutes in the second half, Trinity’s young speedster Shehan Sirisoma gave his team a hope with a fabulous sprint to score under the post while top scorer for Trinity this season Minidu Jayasuriya did the rest by adding the extra points with a straightforward conversion. Just before the final whistle, Minidu Jayasuriya fancied his chance to drop that oval shaped ball to kick it in between the post to cherish that day with celebrations.
Coach De Silva further added in his words, “The 1st xv was not at their best this season but I am sure the future of Trinity rugby is in safe hands. I trained them as the 1st XV side would do. The assistant coach Damith Dissanayake and Master-in-charge Subash Wijewardene gave good support to me. I would like to thank the principal, staff, old boys for their blessings, the 1st XV coach Eric Miller and the rugby committee in the Trinity fraternity for their splendid support given to us’
