points table by 19th may 2009--

Schools---------P--W----L---D----G----T-----P---DG---PF---PA

Kingswood=---3---3----0----0----18---11---2---0---187---21
Royal------=---3---3----0----0-----6---11----3---0---106---49
STC--------=---3---2----1----0-----9----3----3---0----87----66
Isipathana=---3---2----1----0-----4----7----2---1----72----59
SJC--------=---3---2----1----0-----3----7----2----0----62---100
Trinity-----=---3---1----2----0-----6----9----0----1----90----63
SPC--------=---3---1----2----0-----5----9----1----0----83----52
Dharmaraja=--3---1----2----0-----6----0----1----0----45---126
SACK-------=--3---0----3----0-----1----5----2----1----41---115
Mahanama-=--3---0----3----0-----2----1----0----0----38---161



Columns: Played, Won, Lost, Drawn, Goals, Tries, Penalties,
Drop Goals, Points for, Points against, Points, Average

Isipthana defeat Mahanama

Isipathana defeated Mahanama by 38 points (two goals, three tries, one drop goal and two penalties) to 19 (two goals, one try) in another match of the same tournament played at Longdon Place yesterday.

Winger Vishwamithra Jayasinghe and centre Ashan Gallage scored two tries with second row Saranga Uthpala scoring one with Malik Jumad, Uresh Fonseka and Prasad Devinda making the conversions with prop Roshan Bandara, second row Subash Chanaka and centre Chathura Chanaka scoring the tries for Mahanama and Mahesh Kumara converting two of these

Education Ministry queries eligibility of S. Thomas’ rugby players

S. Thomas’ College Mount Lavinia, a school rich in tradition and reputation have been thrown into a quandary following what could be an unprecedented occurrence in the annals of its rugby history. The matter in issue – The Education Ministry has through a written communiqué dated May 05, 2009 sought clarification on the eligibility of three of its rugby players.

In a letter sent under the hand of L.K. Jayaweera an Education Director of the Ministry of Education addressed to the Principal (Acting Warden) of S. Thomas’ Mount Lavinia, the Education Ministry acting upon a complaint made against three (3) students representing S. Thomas’ rugby 1st XV side have sought clarification on the eligibility of the said students to feature in the ongoing U 20 schools rugby league tournament.

The details of the three students concerned who represented Vidyartha College, Kandy last season are stated in the box below.

http://www.dailymirror.lk/DM_BLOG/ArticleImages/hqobsria5eh3ziaxjhy3vo55_dm_20090515_04.gif

The second and the third students named below, have according to the letter failed their GCE Ordinary Level Examinations in the year 2008.

The letter states that according to the Circular applicable (1/14 - as set out in detail in the said letter) a student who has left a school cannot represent his new school in a sport till the expiration of a period of one year. However if a student concerned:-

(a) Obtains a written consent from the principal of his former school that there is no objection to him representing his new school in a sport together with;

(b) A written request to the Ministry of Education by his new principal, approval can be accordingly obtained through the Education Ministry Secretary for a student to forthwith represent his new school in a sport.

Therefore it is imperative that both requisites as per (a) and (b) above should be complied with.

However if without obtaining such permission in the manner afore stated a student does represent his new school in a sport, such conduct would be treated as an illegal act. If in fact a player does represent his new school in violation of this pre – requisite law, the said school shall be disqualified from the relevant tournament. I.e. in this instance S. Thomas’ could be disqualified from the ongoing U – 20 inter school rugby league tournament. The U – 20 inter school rugby league tournament falls within the purview of the Ministry of Education as fully set out in the said letter.

In conclusion, the Director Education requests the Principal (Acting Warden) of S. Thomas’ Mount Lavinia to inform if the three players named above have represented S. Thomas’ in any tournament.

The letter has been copied to The Secretary - Sri Lanka Schools Rugby Football Association, The Principal – Vidyartha College and Lasitha Gunaratne – Coordinator – Sri Lanka Schools Rugby League Tournament.

St. Josephs too put on notice

A similar letter has been sent to St. Josephs College as well. The student concerned is also from Vidyartha College, Kandy. The Education Director L.K. Jayaweera has sought clarification on a student by the name of M.J. Madushanka whose Birth Certificate bears number 3037 and his admission number too is referred to in the said letter.

Pathana down fancied Petes 22-12

Isipathana bounced back into contention when they defeated a fancied St. Peter’s College by 22 points (1 goal, 3 tries) to 12 (1 goal and a try) in their inter-school rugger match played at Bambalapitiya yesterday.

The winners led 12-5 at the breather.

The first-half was closely contested with the `Pathana’ back division closely marked by the Peterites.

The Peterites kept the Isipathana three quarter line at bay with some good tackling.

Both teams scored a try each when Isipathana winger Sumedha Srimal touched down off a second phase move and the Peterites scored when they opted to run the ball instead of a penalty and Chatura Cabraal scored an unconverted try.

Minutes before the half time, Isipathana sprang into the lead when their full back Devinda misdirected a penalty kick and a Peterite player knocked on under the post for Saranga Seneviratne to score.

The Peterites came back with some sporadic moves, but it was insufficient to make a big impact. In the eleventh minute of the second half Isipathana extended their lead when scrum half Mohammed Rizwan sneaked through for an unconverted try off a maul.

During the dying stages of the game, Isipathana sealed the match in their favour when full back devinda touched down for an unconverted try.

Isipathana aiming for a comeback

Isipathana College, with a talented outfit are confident of putting up a good performance in the current inter school rugby season without worrying about their league curtain racer defeat against S. Thomas’ College (28-12) last week.

The team has only five senior players who have represented the school in first XV rugby for at least three years.

Winger Wishwamithra Jayasinghe, flanker Uthpala Senevirathne, centre Ashan Gallage and full back Prasad Devinda have played three seasons while skipper and centre Niroshan Fernando donned the first XV jersey for five years.

Niroshan and Wishamithra also represented the Sri Lanka under 20 side at the last Junior Asaid held in South Korea. This year Pathana, as they are called, retain eleven players from the team that played in the 2008 season.

Head coach of the side is ex Isipathana rugby captain and Sri Lanka player Shamly Nawaz who is using everything at his disposal to lift the side to its past heydays although the task will not be easy in a highly competitive age.

The assistant coach is also a former College player ex-centre Daham Sampath who is handling the three quarters while M. D. Ifthikar is the technical advisor.

This year the side does not sport a heavy pack but make up with some talented and nippy players. Nawaz though contends the side is in good shape ready to meet the challenges.

“The defeat at the hands of the Thomians has made the players more determined to face the season”, said Nawaz.

Isipathana will come out for the second time on Saturday and meet tough opponents St. Peter’s College who thrashed Dharmaraja 61-0 in their opening match.

The forwards are led by flanker Uthpala Senevirathne while the services of experienced prop Dinuka Dananjaya and hooker Thilana Lanka would come in handy.

Isipathana’s strength no doubt lies in their back division with experienced players like fly-half Prashan Attanayake, centres Niroshan Fernando and Ashan Gallage, wingers Wishwamithra Jayasingha and Uresh Fonsekea and full back Prasad Devinda doing duty.

For the record, Isipathana’s best days were in 1985 and 1986 when they ended triple champions followed by the school finishing unbeaten in all age groups in 1992. In that year they had a foreign coach from Japan and since then they have been going through a lean period by way of results even being demoted to the B category in 2005.

Last year Isipathana won four Sevens titles including two senior titles, the all island schools tournament and the Singer-Srilankan Schools Sevens.

Isipathana’s fixtures: May 9 vs St. Peter’s at Bambalapitya, May 16- vs Mahanama at CR and FC ground, May 23 vs– Dharmaraja at Havelock Park, June 6 vs Kingswood in Kandy, June 13 vs– St. Joseph’s at Havelock Park, June 20 vs– Trinity at Pallekele, June 27 vs– Royal at Reid Avenue and July 4 vs St. Anthony’s in Kandy.

Isipathana meet Thurstan at CR and FC on July 11.

2009 Rugby Fixtures

02nd May - Saturday St. Thomas Havelock (Home)



09th May - Saturday St. Peters Bambalapitiya (Away)



16th May - Saturday Mahanama CR & FC (Away)



23rd May - Saturday Dharmaraja Havelocks (Home)



30th May - Saturday St. Anthony's Bogambara (Away)

or 04th July



06th June - Saturday Kingswood Bogambara (Away)



13th June - Saturday St. Joseph Havelock (Home)



20th June - Saturday Trinity Nittawela (Away)



27th June - Saturday Royal Royal Complex (Away)