Thurstan back in ‘A’ Division Rugby after 12 years

Thurstan College produced some breathtaking rugby this season to emerge Segment ‘B’ unbeaten champions of the 2023 Inter-Schools Under-19 Division One League Rugby Tournament.

The Thurstanites also secured their spot in next year’s ‘A’ Division League Rugby Tournament having last made their appearance at the highest-level way back in 2011.

“I think all our hard work over the last few years have finally produced the desired results this time after some frustrating seasons of rugby,” a high-ranking official of Thurstan Rugby Club told the Daily News yesterday.

“We have tried our best during the last couple of years and the team has also performed well but unfortunately the system has prevented us from making it to the top grade,” he stressed.

In fact, last year Thurstan fell agonisingly short of their goal as they finished in third place overall behind the ultimate ‘B’ Division league champions D. S. Senanayake College and the runners-up Zahira College.

“Earlier, the Sri Lanka Schools Rugby Football Association promoted four teams from the ‘B’ Division but since lately, only the top two schools received promotion to the ‘A’ Division,” the official revealed.

“The entire coaching staff has worked tirelessly from the beginning of the season, and we are very proud of their achievements in this year’s league tournament,” he pointed out.

“We had about eight senior players from last year’s team and the boys are now looking forward to competing in the upcoming Prime Minister’s Cup Knock-Out Tournament,” he emphasised.

“We will start our preparations for next year’s season soon after the conclusion of the knock-out tournament with the backing from our Principal and the Schools Development Society,” he added.

Thurstan started their campaign for the ‘B’ Division title with a convincing 34-17 win over Piliyandala Central on their home grounds and trounced Ananda College 32-7 in the next outing at Ananda Mawatha.

In their third match, Thurstan hammered St. Aloysius’ College 100-14 as they ran down a total of 16 tries and converted 10 during a fine exhibition of running rugby. They recorded another smashing 36-5 win over Lumbini College at Havelock Park and rounded up by overcoming Maliyadeva College 20-14 in the last fixture of the league tournament.

Thurstan College First XV Rugby Squad:

Daveesha Perera (Captain), Ashan de Silva (Vice-Captain), Thimira Lakshan, Oshada Mihiranga, Pasan Jayarathna, Menusha Shenal, Ramika Thiran, Devinda Pathirana, Sithija Jayathilaka, Esitha Apoorva, Lithira Mithsura, Denver Jason, Pasinda Kavinda, Ahad Salay, Chanithu Semal, Lesandu Athukorala, Kaveesha Binuwara, Binuka Dileshan, Hansa Indramal, Binuka Hejitha, Menura Lakvidu, Aaqib Sahal, Navik Geesath, Malindu Winsara, Yuwan Pathirana.

Coaching staff: Colin Denish (Head Coach), Lasindu Karunathilaka (Assistant Coach), Gihan Perera (Trainer), Nipuna Kalhara (Manager).

How Thurstan fared in the League Tournament: Beat Piliyandala Central 34-17 at Thurstan Grounds, beat Ananda College 32-7 at Ananda Mawatha, beat St. Aloysius’ College 100-14 at Thurstan Grounds, beat Lumbini College 36-5 at Havelock Park, beat Maliyadeva College 20-14 at Thurstan Grounds.