Peterites come out for the first time on April 28

RUGBY: St. Peter's College, Bambalapitiya which enjoyed a marvellous season last year in which they clinched the rugby double - schools under-20 rugby league title and the President's Trophy knock-out rugby tournament will come out for the first time on April 28 when they confront St. Anthony's College, Katugastota at Bambalapitiya.

The Peterites will field another formidable team this year and will have the services of ten senior players. Led by scrum half Ranuka Jayasinghe the lads from Bambalapitiya will have four Sri Lanka youth players in their ranks - number eight Haren Ariyawardena, prop forward Arjuna Bopitiya, fly half Irfath Meedin and flanker Imran Noor and should enjoy another successful season under the guidance of Sri Lanka under-19 coach Sanath Martis who took great pains to mould them into a champion outfit last year.

The Antonians who finished fourth in the 'A' division league last year too will have a strong team this year and should give the Peterites a run for their money. Three Sri Lanka under-19 ruggerites - fly half Roshan Wijesiri, flanker Sharmika Jayawardena and winger Kusal Rankothge will turn out for the Kandy school along with winger Chinthaka Guneratne who was a stand-by for the youth rugby Asiad. Former Sri Lanka flanker Nihal 'Viper' Guneratne who was the assistant coach of the Sri Lanka under-19 team has been entrusted with the task of coaching the Antonians for the second successive year.

Four more segment one matches of the schools 'A' division league will be played on April 28 - S. Thomas-Trinity for the De Saram shield at Longden Place, Royal-Wesley at the Royal sports complex, Isipatana-Kingswood at Nittawela and Ananda-Thurstan in Colombo.