Expect rip-roaring fare when... Trinity meets Isipathana
by Ranjan ANANDAPPA
RUGBY: A block-buster of a final is on the cards when two evenly
balanced rugby outfits, league champions Isipathana College and
defending champions Trinity College, Kandy ‘lock horns’ in the Milo
Under 19 Schools Knock-Out Rugby Final at the Royal College, Sports
Complex grounds Today (Sunday) at 4.00pm.
The Havelock Town school will be looking for the ‘double’, and a win
for Isipathana will not only give them the schools rugby ‘double’ but
help them to avenge the defeat of last year’s final.
When the two teams met each other in the league this year, Trinity
recorded a thrilling 23/20 win.
Upfront a terrific tussle for supremacy can be expected with the
powerful Trinity ‘eight’ spearheaded by Sri Lanka youth captain Randika
Alwis well supported by Mohammed Insaf, Anurudha Karunatileka, Thushan
Dharmasena, Dhuli Samarakoon and Ryle Madena fiercely challenged by an
equally good set of forwards of Isipathana Ganidu Weerasinghe, Manaka
Siriwardena, Shenal Deelaka, Dhanuka Dissanayake and Sri Lanka youth
player Arun Kumar and that fine player in the loose skipper Kumendra
Dharmadasa.
Speedy three-quarters
Both teams possess a speedy set of three quarters with Trinity having
a fine half combination with experience Sanjaya Somasiri and young
Tharinda Ratwatte.
Centres the seasoned duo of skipper Kanil Seneviratne and his deputy
Thisila Karunatileka and the two swift runners on the wing Dharshana
Udalagama and Lochana Girihagama are likely to test the Isipathana
defence to the hilt with their daring runs with full-back Halique Wadood
also having the knack of joining the line.
Isipathana’s forte has also been their dazzling three quarter play.
They too have a fine half combination .
The seasoned Kavindu de Costa and talented Hirantha Perera (who has
contributed over 100 points this season) with his unerring kicking .
Centers Ashan Kavinda, Shamal Chaturanga, and dashing winger another
youth player Uditha Prematileka too should pose a threat to the Trinity
defence as they displayed in the league tournament.
Past winners of the President’s trophy- 1995. St.Peter’s. 1996:
Isipathana, 1997: Isipathana, 1998: Thurstan, 1999: Isipathana, 2000:
Kingswood, 2001: Isipathana, 2002: Royal, 2003: Kingswood, 2004:
Kingswood, 2005: St. Peter’s, 2006: St. Peter’s, 2007: St.Peter’s, 2008:
Kingswood, 2009: S.Thomas’, 2010: Royal, 2011: Trinity.
[ Teams]
Isipathana College: Ushan Charuka, Manaka Siriwardena, Gamika
Dissanayake, Malith Gomes, Danidu Lakshan, Shenal Deelaka, Kumendra
Dharmadasa (Captain), Arun Kumar, Sudam Parinda, Kavindu Costa, Hirantha
Perera, Shamal Chaturanga, Ashan Kavinda, Madhava Pabasara, Sithum
Chatusanka, and Uditha Prematileka.
Trinity College: Anurudha Karunatileka, Duli Samarakoon, Mohammed
Insaf, C.D.Dharmasena, Randika Alwis, Umesh Amarasekera, M.Singha
Lakshan, Ryle Madena, Sanjaya Somasiri, Tharinda Ratwatte, Dharshana
Udalagama, Sisila Karunatileka, Kanil Seneviratne (Captain), Lochana
Girahagama and Halique Wadood.
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