Thomians’ favoured to win today

by Ranjan ANANDAPPA

RUGBY: Schools Rugby League runners up S. Thomas’ are firm favourites when they meet St. Anthony’s College, Katugastota in the first semi final in the Schools Under 20 ‘Milo’ Knock-out tournament to be played at the Royal College Sports Complex grounds Stanley Wijesundera Mawatha today. (Sunday)

The second semi final will be played between Isipathana and Wesley tomorrow (Monday) at the same venue. The winners will meet in the final at Royal Sports Complex grounds on July 18 (Saturday). The Thomians, by virtue of their big win in the league against the Antonians, should have things to their liking after receiving a ‘bye’ to the semis. The Antonians defeated the Peterites 22-17 in the quarter-finals. The Thomians strong set of forwards spearheaded by ‘number 8’ Rajindra Gunasekera, one of the best players in the school arena today and with a reliable place kicker, winger Arjun Manoharan have been the key for the Thomian’s success.

S. Thomas’ lost only to Royal and their chances of pulling off the knock-out title is on the plus side. They last won the K-O title in 1994 under the leadership of ‘number 8’ Nalin Wijegunawardena when they defeated St. Peter’s 6-0 at the Sugathadasa Stadium.

The Anthonians on the other hand will have the consolation of defeating three times title holders St. Peter’s in the quarter-finals and they possess a good back division . However, their overall performance in the league has not been impressive and they will have to produce something spectacular to keep the Thomians at bay.

Teams:

St. Anthony’s, Katugastota: S. Rajaguru, Halil Mohammed, Kavinda Perera, Prabudha Sooriyabandara, Jeremy Anton, Asitha Perera, M. Laheer, M. Arshan, Dinesh Kumara, Lahiru Kumara, Amila Bandara, Amila Weligampola (Captain). Tharindu Bandara, Ashan Jayaweera, Chanaka Kumara.

S. Thomas’ College, Mount Lavinia: S. Kapuwatte (Captain), Janik Jayasuriya, Vivian Rudra, Rukshan Rila, Praveen Perera, Arjun Manoharan, Rajinda Gunasekera, Sanjeeva Ahangama, Dinuk Amarasinghe, Treshan Wickremasinghe, Sachin David, Jeevaka Hewavitharana, Asela Kohona, Sandeep Jayawardena, Amrik Andrado, Anurudha Wilwara, Shilendra Samarajeeva, Roshanka Kodituwakku, Anjula de Silva, Danindu de Silva, Asitha Wijesinghe, Jeremy Fernando, Ishanka Pilapitiya, Sudharshana Muthuthanthri.