By M. Shamil Amit
The first match of the Dialog Inter-Schools Rugby Super Round segment is scheduled to be kicked off today at 4.00 p.m. with St. Peter’s College hosting St. Anthony’s College at Bambalapitiya.
Apart from the league encounter this will also be played for the Rector’s Trophy, which has been contested since 2009, of which St. Peter’s are the holders.
The Rector’s Trophy is presented in memory of two Rectors who served the schools with Rev. Fr. Joe E. Wickramasinghe having served St. Peter’s from 1978 to 1992 and Rev Fr. Dom Aiden de Silva having served St. Anthony’s from 1967 to 1978.
St. Peter’s led by flanker Ashain Madugasge, who are the holders of the trophy, will be coming into the game with their heads held high and with confidence due to the fact they have remained unbeaten, winning all the six first round matches and will be seeking to continue their winning streak.
St. Anthony’s led by the dynamic fly-half Sahan Keerthisiri on the other hand will be looking forward to continue their good work with the aim of regaining the trophy.
The Peterites though being favoured to come out on top will no doubt be under pressure as they are working hard to lay their hands on the Dialog trophy which is going to be tough, as they will have get past two other strong teams in Royal College and defending champions Isipathana College.
St. Peter’s skipper Madugasge will be banking on the players in the calibre of Sudesh Jayawickrama, Yumeth Shihara, Ridmal Ranitha, Emith Jayaweera, Pasindu Bandara, Sadew Gamage, Methusara Wishmika, Praneeth Silva, Aiden Fernando, Rahul de Peter, Kushan Tharindu, Dulaj Navodya, Vindya de Mel and Dineth Ranasinghe who have all been at the forefront of the team’s success so far. St. Anthony’s skipper Keerthisiri will be a trump card as he has been in tremendous form and he will be expecting the support of Jude Relano, Omitha Dissanayake, Roshen Kumara, Tyron Mariyadas, Ravindu Welagedera, Sahan Kothalawala, Rakesh Pillay, Thisara Gallage, and Randeer Perera.
However the Peterites cannot take the Antonians lightly and gauging by their performances in the latter stages of the first round matches they are capable of pulling off a surprise.
And even though the Antonians are far from achieving the feat of bagging the trophy which they last won in the year 2001, the Peterites will be seeking to lay the foundation and keep up hopes to bag their 15th league title.
The Teams:
St. Peter’s – Ashain Madugasge (Capt.), Sudesh Jayawickrama, Yumeth Shihara, Ridmal Ranitha , Emith Jayaweera, Pasindu Bandara, Sadew Gamage, Methusara Wishmika, Praneeth Silva, Tharindu Kushan, Aiden Fernando, Rahul Peter, Shenuka Perera, Kushan Tharindu, Dulaj Navodya, Vidnya de Mel, Dineth Ranasinghe, Jehan Weerabangsa, Sajith Gallage, Vishenka Silva, Sulaman Riyaz, Pawan Indrajith, Januk Ranasinghe, Ishanka Edirisinghe, Denand Ranaweera, Sachin Aruldas, Tharusha Maneth
St. Antnony’s – Sahan Keerthisiri (Capt.), Jude Realano, Omitha Dissanayake, Roshen Kumara, Tyron Mariyadas, Ravindu Welagedera, Sahan Kothalawala, Rakesh Pillai, Thisara Galanga, Randeer Perera. Sasindu Senaratne, Shenuka Kotuwila, Sithum Perera, Sudish Rodrigo, Yasiru Gamage, Akesh Hansaja, Akesh Sampath, Azmath Azeez, Oshan Gunaratne, Chamalka Hirushan, Chamika Adikari, Demion Woods, Deshan Liyanage, Indunil Wickramasinghe, Kalpa Lakmina, Manelka Fernando, Manuja Rajapakse, Minal Kumar, Minuja Herath, Mohamed Amjath, Mohamed Faraz, Raveendra Gregory, Abdul Rasith, Givantha Dahanayake, Agitha Munasinghe, Gaveen Wijesundara, Shevin Fonseka.
