Petes look for repeat, Pathana seek revenge

By M. Shamil Amit

(Colombo) - The defending champions St. Peter’s College will take on Isipathana College in the President’s Trophy Inter-Schools Under-19 Knock-Out Rugby Tournament final at the Sugathadasa Stadium in Colombo Sunday.

This match should turn out to be an interesting tussle as St. Peter’s, led by No. 8 Dulaj Navodya are looking for a repeat having defeated the same opponents earlier in the League Tournament.

However, Isipathana, led by No. 8 Nisaja Jayaweera are hoping to bounce back and avenge their previous defeat.

The Peterites are also aiming to complete a grand a double for the second successive year having earlier emerged as the unbeaten League champions.

In the two semi-finals, the two teams confronted Wesley College and S. Thomas’ College and they had to pull out all the tricks out of the bag to emerge victorious.

The Peterites went through some anxious moments before pulling off a close 23-20 victory and Isipathana also had a tough outing before edging their opponents during extra time (25-20), after the match ended 20-20.

The two teams will be meeting in the knock-out tournament encounter for the third time in eight years. The first occasion was in the 2016 semi-final, which Isipathana prevailed and last year, the Peterites came out victorious in the final.

Meanwhile, St. Peter’s will miss one of their top players Yumeth Shihara, who is nursing an injury but Skipper Navodya has a host of players in the likes of Vishenka Silva - the top scorer of the side this season, Ranithu Rithmal, Aiden Fernando, Raul Peter, Salith Gallage, Praneeth Silva, Pasindu Bandara and Revone Perera to deliver the goods.

On the other hand Isipathana Skipper Jayaweera along with playmaker Shaahid Zumri, Kaveen Tharusha, Nimantha Sandeepa, Kenula Mihisara, Avishka Hiran, Kalindu Silva, Abdullah Faizer and Shaakib Zumri are going to be the backbone for the side and much will be expected from them.

The Peterites will be looking to win their ninth knock-out title and Isipathana will be seeking to win their 12th knock-out title since it began in 1985 having also ended as the runners-up on 14 occasions.