POW recognizes its rugby royalty

The Old Boys and school officials of Prince of Wa l e s ’ College Moratuwa felicitated their 2012 First XV rugby team on their double achievement during the schools rugby season this year.

The Cambrian rugby team clinched the Under- 20 Singer Schools Division I C rugby championship and followed this impressive feat by clinching the MiloPremier Trophy Schools Knockout Championship. The remarkable aspect of their wins was being unbeaten right throughout both competitions.

The school boasts of a relatively short history of 33 years in rugby, a sport which was introduced to Prince of Wales’ in 1979 under its then principal M. E. C. Fernando. However by 1997, with the able guidance of their then principal, the late H. L. B. Gomes, Prince of Wales’ uplifted itself into a Division I schools team. This was achieved after many years of sacrifice by its players who later turned out to support their alma mater. In 2003 the Cambrians won the Division I C championship and were promoted to the next segment. Later, in 2009, they earned a promotion to the top division after winning the Division I B title while winning the Milo-Premier Trophy Knockout Championship for the first time.

After going through an agonising period during the past two years, Prince of Wales’ were pushed down to Division I C, where their players competed with great determination and commitment to regain their lost prestige. After hard work, this season the Cambrians were able to repeat a double achievement similar to what they accomplished in 2009.

This season they played nine league games in Division I C and won all of them rather comprehensively.

They kicked off the season in great style by recording a thumping 110-nil victory against newcomers Dhar map a l a C o l l e g e Pannipitiya and continued their fine form with a convincing 83- 13 win against Maliyadeva College, Kurunegala. Against the muchexperienced St. John’s College Nugegoda, the Cambrians were triumphant once again, winning 63-11 before facing their first tough opponents in Zahira College Colombo. Eventually Prince of Wales’ emerged victorious by 41-31. Then they enjoyed four consecutive comfortable wins during the remainder of the tournament. They beat St. Thomas’ College Matale by 66-5, St. Benedict’s College Kotahena by 58-6, St. Anne’s College Kurunegala by 45-3 and Royal College Panadura by 53- nil before facing the tough Ananda College outfit. However Prince of Wales’ were victorious by 22-15 after a gruelling game.

After completing an unblemished season in the Under-20 Singer Schools Division I C rugby competition, the Cambrians entered the Milo- Premier Trophy Schools Knockout competition with great confidence and a single aim. After receiving a walkover win from C.W.W. Kannangara MV, they went on to beat high-riding Mahanama College by 14-3 before drubbing the tough Ananda College team by a nar row 5- 3 in the final. Significantly during the knockout competition Prince of Wales’ prevented their opponents from scoring a single try which goes to depict the determination of the team. Next season they will be competing in the Division I B segment during the league tournament and if their performances further improve the Cambrians will enter the President’s Cup knockout competition. Coach Nilame Samarakoon says the Cambrians’ mission will be accomplished only when they will reach the top league again, after transforming themselves into a formidable side in school rugby. – Naushad Amit

THE SQUAD:

Props: Tharindu Lakshan, Sudesh Nirmala.

Hooker: Wenura Mayuk, Prabuddha Samarasooriya.

Locks: Janith Chathuranga, Tharindu Kasun, Kasun Darshana, Harshana Alwis.

Flankers: Bhangya Madushanka, Vi h a n g a Pivithuru, Chamath Udara, Nadeesh Suranga. No.8: Pivithuru Wijeratne. S c rum half: Chanuka Dhananjaya.

Fly half: Samarasooriya.

Centres: Randitha Warnapura ( Capt), Dulaj Konara, Ushal Pimalka.

Wingers: Kasun Madushanka, Madushan Hasantha, Sujan Sandun, Ishan Sachintha, Ashan Buddhika, Rajindu Yomal, Samidhu Suranga, Navid Fazal, Lakshan Salanka. Fullback: Neshaka Mendis. Officials: Nilame Samarakoon (Head Coach), Susantha Mendis (MIC)

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