Vidura break through with first tackle
Vidura College Colombo, who are impressively moving forward in the schools’ sports arena, entered the rugby scene only to walk out as winners in their debut outing. Coming out for the first time in school rugby, Vidura College participated in the Milo Sri Lanka Schools Under-18 Division II 10s tournament and won the Bowl championship.
The victorious Vidura rugby team beat Eheliyagoda Central 5-0 in an absorbing Bowl final, which was held at the Science College ground in Mt. Lavinia. The twoday competition was held during the final weekend of September, bringing joy to the young Vidura College ruggerites, who were highly thrilled after winning a championship title in their debut appearance.
The final was keenly contested with a superb display of defence from the Vidura lads, who played as an experienced side. After a great struggle, Vidura snatched the game through an unconverted try from Sahan Anjana Perera who will hold the rare honour of scoring the only try in a final where they emerged victorious.
Vidura College was one of the 36 teams that took part in the 10s competition, which featured some fine school rugby teams. On their way to the Bowl final, Vidura won three games and lost only one, in the group stage against Wayamba Royal by a slender margin of 5-0. Vidura advanced to the Bowl pre- quarterfinal where they beat Dehiovita National School 15- 0. Padula Liyanage, Akila Kumara and Kavisha Wijeratne scored the unconverted tries for the winners, who marched into the quarterfinal of the Bowl segment.
Vidura produced a very impressive performance against Kotalawala Maha Vidyalaya to record a commanding 17- 0 win in the Bowl quarterfinal encounter. Akila Kumara recorded his second try of the competition as Vihan Vindula and Nipuna Fernando became the new try- scorers for Vidura. For the first time Kavisha Wijeratne was successful in converting a try.
Vidura met Dudley Senanayake Maha Vidyalaya in their decisive semifinal clash which was won by the tournament debutants by a slender margin of 5- 0. Sahan Anjana, who scored a try in the Bowl final held the honour of scoring the crucial try for Vidura in the game, which took them to the Bowl final.
The victorious Vidura College rugby team is highly thrilled to have reached a segment final in their first outing. The team thanked the team management comprising Principal D. G. Sumanasekara, Managing Director Indu Sumanasekara, Master- in- Charge Dilanjan Perea, Coach Ishara Perera and Manager of Sports Upali de Silva for their unstinted support that led the side to a victorious beginning.
The side is currently preparing for its second biggest assignment to come, the Schools Under- 16 Tournament, which will be held in Kurunegala shortly.
The team under the leadership of Thumula Fernando comprises Nipuna Fernando, Nipuna Ranasinghe, Kavisha Wijeratne, Akila Kumara, Sahan Perera, Kulith Gamage, Oshen Weerasinghe, Chamath Fe r n a n d o, L a k s h a n Dissanayake, Tharindu Thirimavithana, Aquil Nizam, Supun Karunaratne, Padula Liyanage and Vihan Vindula.