D. S. Senanayake, S. Thomas’ battle for second slot

By M. Shamil Amit

D. S. Senanayake College and S. Thomas’ Mt Lavinia will lock horns against each other in a crucial penultimate round match of Group 1A in the Under 19 Inter-School Rugby tournament today at Havelock Park scheduled to be kicked off from 4.15 p.m.

It’s a virtual must win game for the two teams and whoever wins will most probably qualify to the Super Round along with Isipathana College, who has already sealed their slot with their unbeaten record, having won all the five matches they have played so far.

The encounter no doubt is going to be closely contested due to the fact that the two teams have won three matches each from the four matches they have played so far.But D. S. Senanayake, led by Jayathu Rajaratne, who returned to the top division this year have so far played more than what was expected from them chalking up wins against fancied teams in the likes of St. Anthony’s College Katugastota in the first match, Wesley College in the second match, before undergoing a defeat to the strong Pathanians, but came back to get the better of Kingswood.

On the other hand the Thomians led by Viyaan de Silva too started their campaign on a winning note with a close win against Wesley and underwent a defeat to defending champions Isipathana. They came back with vengeance to chalk up back to back wins against Kingswood and arch rivals St. Joseph’s which saw them regaining the Lady Jayatileke Shield,With just one point separating the two teams in the latest points table the encounter no doubt is going to be interesting as for both teams it’s going to be a do or die effort they will have to put in.
Another factor is that neither of the teams has performed with credibility and for sure the supporters of the two sides can expect a closely fought game where neither leaves no stone unturned to achieve the target.It’s left to be seen whether DSS would be able to stave off the Thomian grit which they are noted and likewise the Thomians cannot afford to take their opponents lightly who are capable of pulling off a surprise.

The Teams:

 DSS – Jayathu Rajaratne (Captain), Chenitha Sanchith, Mohamed Aahil, Omika Lison, Navinda Hettiarachchi, Shamal Maleesha, Chamod Dewmith, Osman, Wafa, Thiven Perera, Manura Peiris, Sehanda Umagiliyage, Sandaru Lokuge, Samod Madusanka, Janindu Wijeratne, Menura Perera, Sahas Balasooriya, Yasavi Rathnasiri, Dithira Edirisooriya, Kaveesha Hikkaduwage, Praveem Dilakshan, Thatheera Dahamdiv, Nadil Paranaman  

S. Thomas’ – Viyaan de Silva (Captain), Shanal Fernando, Mahith Perera, Yehan Bulathsingalage, Dehan Senaratne, Mohamed Hakeem, Sarantha Perera, Akesh Fernando, Reshane Dwight, Jared Marthenstyn, Venuka Wickramasooriya, Averon Noah, Dewshan Navaratne, Jayodh Perera Ahmed Rifaaz, Jehan Jayasinghe, Pujana Kasthuriarachchi, Akith Cooray, Seneshka Liyanagunawardena, Kaveesh Lenagala, Havindu de Silva