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Message: <blockquote data-quote="1979muth" data-source="post: 2303127" data-attributes="member: 103004">Thurstan-Isipathana clash for Jabbar Trophy Traditional rivals Thurstan and Isipathana will clash for the annual Abdul Jabbar shield today at the CR & FC grounds. This will be the 40th encounter in the series that has been dominated by Isipathana from the inception. The fact that neither team is in the running for Championship honours will make this game even more interesting. Excepting for 1975 where the match was drawn and in 2005 where Thurstan emerged victorious it has been Isipatana all the way. Thurstan and Isipathana met each other for the first time in 1963 at Havelock Park with Thurstan winning the match by 6 points to three. This was one of Thurstan’s finest seasons under the leadership of Depal de Zoysa of CR & FC & Kandy SC fame. The honour of scoring the maiden try in the series rests with Vernon Caldera, a rugby player and cricketer of fame for Nondescript Cricket Club and the match winning drop goal was put over by Lionel Wickremasekera while Mantara scored Isipathana’s solitary try. In 1965 Isipathana under Ana Saranapala brought an end to Thurstan’s glory with a 17-0 win over a Thurstan team led by Indra Piyatissa. In 1967 during the tenures of Principals P. M. Jayathileke (Thurstan) and Col G. W. Rajapakse (Isipathana) two distinguished educationists, the match was elevated to a big match status for the Abdul Jabbar Trophy. In this historic encounter Thurstan was led by Mangala Ratnayake who later turned out for Army and Isipathana by G. Wijeratne. From the initial years this was a closely contested game, the inaugural match and the 1968 encounter were won by Isipathana with slender margins with Thurstan Place kickers Tissa Nanayakkara and Diyanesh Rajaratnam missing vital penalties. However the period thereafter Isipathana displayed their superiority while Thurstan under the leadership of Tissa Wickramanayake drew 3 all in 1975. In 1993 Thurstan under Suranga Kulawickrema almost turned tables until Isipatana scrum half Bohoran scored a brilliant blind side try in the last minute to clinch the trophy. In 1998 Thurstan beat Isipathana in the President’s trophy knockout tournament but failed to wrest the Jabbar Shield. In 2005 Thurstan achieved their long cherished dream to engrave their name in the Jabbar with a splendid win with skipper Amila Eranga playing a captain game. Isipathana who began with a clean sweep in the sevens tournaments fared disastrously by losing to Trinity in their first encounter, though beating Royal, Isipathana could not find their rhythm and failed to be in contention for the league crown. Nevertheless Havelock Town lads are a competent outfit with their skipper Dinesh Chaturanga and Vishwamitra Jayasinghe being outstanding players. Thurstan who were relegated to B Division enjoyed a moderate season winning four matches, drawing two and losing to group champs St. Joseph’s and Ananda. It will be up to Thurstan skipper Husseifa Adahan to come up with a improved performance and rise to the occasion on the big day. The commitment and dedication of Thurstan’s Rugby committee comprising past stalwarts Chula Dharmadasa, Milinda Ratnayake, Rear. Admiral Harsha Mayadune, Suranga Kulawickrema and Mohan Fernando certainly promises a bright future for these lads who are yet forced to practice on their makeshift Ground of sorts at Thurstan Road.</blockquote>

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