Kandy school rugby teams qualify for 2nd round

By Hafiz Marikar

Six teams have qualified among the rugby playing schools in Kandy to play in the second round of the schools Under 20 tournament after a successful league competition.

Trinity College is the only school from Kandy playing in the Division I “Segment 1A” group. They opened the season with a win against Wesley College, and also beat St. Josephs College, D.S. Senanayake College and lost to St. Thomas College and Royal College in the league games.

However, they qualified to meet Science College in the second round first match on 28th. Trinity were placed 3rd in the first round, behind St. Thomas’ and Royal. They played well, but went down fighting in the last two league games. They rallied round beautifully, but bad selection let them down in the last two league games.

St. Anthony’s College - after a dismal performance for three years bounced back into recognition with a good performance in the last two games. After losing the first three games to Science College, Iispathana and St.Peter’s they beat two home town schools Dhamraraja and Kingswood to be promoted to the Division I from Division I“Segment -1B” and will play against St. Thomas’ in the first second round game. In the last two games they performed upto expectations with the forwards combining well. In their last two games they played with a real purpose to achieve their goal.. The Anthonians are expected to do well in the second round matches

Kigswood College – They lost all their matches .first to St. Peters , Dharmaraja, Isipathana Science , St. Anthony’s and also lost in the traditional game to Wesley. They will meet Prince of Wales in the “Plate “ competition

Dharmaraja - played in the Division I Segment –“1B” in the first round and now are placed in the “Plate” competition in the second round and are expected to play Mahanama. In the first round. They lost to Isipathana , St .Peters, Science , St. Anthony’s and beat only their rivals Kingswood in the first round matches .

St. Sylvester’s College- Played in the Division I Segment – “1C” completed their first round, with an unbeaten record, they beat all the five schools they met, Maliyadeva, Richmond , Ehiliyagoda, Carey and Thomas Matale, They are placed in the “Bowl” competition and will confront St .Johns. A school with limited facilities.

Vidyartha College - Played in the Division I Segment –“2A” and completed the first round quite successfully. winning four games out of five. they beat Prince of Wales , Thurstan , Piliyandala, St. Benedict’s and lost to Mahanama. Vidyartha will be meeting Lumbini in the second round game. Vidyartha were tipped to be promoted to the DivisionI, but were short of jist 0.5 points. In the first round their three-quarters combined well producing a series of threatening moves. Their wingers too were impressive with the forward feedimg the backs well. This indicates that they should do well in the next round..

Schools like Wariyapola Sri Sumangala, Nugawella Central and Sri Rahula are also in the game and took part in the tournament.