The Trinity College Under 14 rugby team emerged champions at the Milo All-Island Under 14 10-a Side Rugby Tournament. The tournament was played at the Royal College Sports Complex on the 1st of September 2019.
The boys put in a lot of effort and hard work into their practice sessions which helped them achieve this tremendous feat. The Trinitians displayed some beautiful and intense rugby throughout the tournament, allowing only one try against them. An U14 Trinity outfit last won this tournament back in 2015, where they edged passed the Thomians with a drop goal.
Day 1
The team started the tournament on a high note beating Sri Sumangala College 28-00 in their first match of the tournament, sending out a message to all the other team that Trinity were a champion outfit.
The team then faced Science College later in the day. They managed to thump the boys from Mount Lavinia 38-00 as the Trinitians cruised to the quarter finals.
Day 2
Their quarter finals challenge was from Wesley College and the team displayed brilliant skill and talent as they beat the Wesleyites 19-00. This win propelled them to the semi finals to face Zahira College.
The team ran riot against the Zahirians winning the game by a big margin, 31-00.
The Trinitians faced their last and most important challenge of the day against Isipathana in the final and the team showed immense composure and determination to get over the line.
The scores were tied at half time, 5-5, and were still level at the end of the game. The match went into extra time where the first team to score points would win the game.
The Trinity unit gained ground slowly and went through the Isipathana defense to score the first points, winning the game, 10-5.
Former Peterite, Havies and Lanka Lions player, Mr Ramzy Dekkak was the Head Coach of the unit. With his experience as a player and coach produced an outstanding team with the help of the assistant coach Mr Ranjan and the MIC Mr Shiran Sampath.
The U14 team captain Ravin Illangaratne has this to say:
“I would like to thank our coaching staff who helped us immensely and if not for them, bringing this victory home would be simply impossible, and I greatly appreciate my team-mates who supported me and worked really hard in order to make sure that we brought the cup back to school right where it belongs, through the hard practice sessions with dedication, determination and confidence. We worked together as a team and finally won as a team, and last but not least I would like to thank my family for always being there for me when I needed their support.”
Trinity U14 Squad
Ravin Illangaratne (Capt.), U.S. Gammudali (Vice Capt.), T.B. Dissnayake, S. Wanasekera, I. Munasinghe, S. Alexander, Rushen Bandaranayake, V. Senevirathne, Anuhas Kodituwakku, D. Watagoda, M. Raizan, B. Lewke Bandara, Dasula Wijesiri, Nithya Samaraweera, D. Wijeratne, Deemal Thilakrathne, Ammar Mohamed, Mohamed Shan, D. Batanagala, N. Peramunage, M. Wijekoon, A. Wanniarachchi, T. Abeynayake, Shazni Jaleel, F. Faizal, Heshan Kamarawansha, Risith Kuruppu, Saihaan Ibrahim, Waqidh Ali, Nilanga Meegahakumbura, G. Ratnayake and Disal Thomas
The team would like to thank their coaching staff for there untiring support and guidance given at all times. The boys would also like to thank their parents for all the sacrifices made to help them achieve their goal.