St. Peter's vs Isipatana a block-buster start to schools rugby season

by Ranjan ANANDAPPA

RUGBY: The Singer 2010 Inter-School League rugger season will get off to a block-buster start when two leading rugger playing schools St. Peter's and Isipatana 'lock' horns at Havelock Park on Saturday (24 April).

According to a schools rugby football official, the fixtures are based on last year's performance and this crowd-puller of a match will no doubt take centre stage.

The Peterites did not have a good season last year, but will have the service of eight coloursmen this year which could add more vigour into the side.

They have already clinched the Western Province and All Island Seven-a-Side titles.

Fly-half Keith Gurusinghe will lead the Peterites this year, and the side is balanced in both units with the forwards and the backs combining effectively.

There are players of the calibre of 'number eight' Shenal Dias, Prop Steve Nelson, scrum-half Meedin and centres Bhanuka Nanayakkara and Danushka Ranjan.

On the other hand, Isipatana has been training since October 2009 under the guidance of Shamly Nawaz.

The Havelock Town School will have the services of 13 coloursmen and is led by centre Ashan Gallage. Some of their seasoned players, besides their skipper, are deputy and 'number eight' Tharindu Siriwardena, flankers Deshanth Subashana, Sajid Suhayub, second-rower Muksheed Kuthdoos and prop Danushka Suriyarachchi.

The other matches on April 24 are - Defending champions Royal vs Prince of Wales at the Royal College Sports Complex, S. Thomas' vs Wesley at Mount Lavinia, Kingswood vs St. Anthony's at Bogambara, Trinity vs Dharmaraja at Pallekelle.