Mahanama poised to secure ‘A’ Division rugby spot

Mahanama College are poised to secure a place in the elusive ‘A’ Division segment in 2024 after having completed a successful season in the Inter-Schools Under-19 Division One Segment ‘B’ Tournament.

Mahanama are currently trailing in second place of the points table, but they are awaiting the results of two first-round matches, which are pending, after their opponents had violated the tournament rules.

“We are confident of overturning the result of the match against Prince of Wales, which we lost 17-26 as the opposition have allegedly fielded an illegal player,” an official of the Mahanama Rugby Wing told the Daily News yesterday.

“We are also hoping that the result of the match against Carey College will turn in our favour as the opposition had refused to play the match on the scheduled day citing injuries,” the official stressed.

“We are trailing by a close margin in the points table and if the results of these two matches are in favour of us then we are assured of a promotion to the ‘A’ Division next year,” he added.

Mahanama started the current season with an impressive 22-13 victory over St. Benedict’s College in their curtain raiser match played at Ratmalana.

Thereafter, they figured in a thrilling encounter against Prince of Wales before going down 17-26 at the same venue with the result yet to be confirmed by the Sri Lanka Schools Rugby Football Association (SLSRFA).

Meanwhile, an official from the SLSRFA confirmed that the inquiry on the match between Mahanama and Prince of Wales is pending, and the verdict will be announced next week ahead of the knock-out tournament.

Mahanama went on to pull off a morale boosting 20-10 victory over St. Sylvester’s College at the Bogambara Stadium in Kandy and followed up with a convincing 19-7 win over Sri Sumangala College at Ratmalana.

But unfortunately, their last match of the first-round against Carey was a non-start and that has kept them in suspense and temporally halted their progress of making it to the ‘A’ Division next season.

Mahanama last played in the ‘A’ Division League Tournament in 2009 and since then they have made several unsuccessful attempts to reach the highest level in Sri Lanka schools rugby.

After having started the game in 1986, they have made some vast strides over the years with the backing from the Mahanama Rugby Wing, which is the official committee for governing the Mahanama Rugby Team in all age group categories.

The Mahanama Rugby Wing is also the main facilitator of resources to their rugby team under the intervention of the Old Boys Association and the School Development Society of Mahanama College.

One of their main achievements came in the 1994/95 season when they were placed third in the All-Island Division One Tournament and were the runners-up in the 2008/09 Division One Segment ‘B’ Tournament.

Mahanama College First XV Rugby Pool:

Prop forwards: Nadun Nimesh, Rashmika Basuru, Sandamal Ariyarathne.

Hooker: Imalka Jayoda.

Second row forwards: Krishan Dawundage, Senila Ransara, Nikhila Dulaj, Chanuth Nemitha.

Flankers: Lalanka Abhiru, Sithumina Dulanjana, Isuru Hasanga, Arunod

Udara.

Number Eight: Isuru Peiris, Chathil Silva.

Scrum halves: Nesandu Geelaka, Tharusha Dilshan, Nethika de Silva.

Fly half: Navith Kannangara, Subanga Perera.

Centres: Jineth Bethmika (Captain), Odithya Tharujaya, Rumeth Devvin.

Wingers: Chathuranga Dilshan, Adeesha Dabare, Mandilu Nemsara.

Full back: Sithum Sandeepa, Imesh Thilakarathne.

Head Coach: Randima Fernando.

Assistant Coach/Trainer: Jananga Viranjaya.

Manager: Eroshana Bandara.

Physiotherapist: Kanishka Rangana.

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