Dialog Schools Rugby Knockout Zahira confront DSS in second quarter-final

By M. Shamil Amit

The Dialog President’s Trophy schools rugby knockout tournament will get underway today with the clash between Zahira College and D.S. Senanayake College scheduled to be played from 4:15 p.m. at Havelock Park.   

The tournament for the top division schools will see only seven teams in the fray comprising defending champions Isipathana College, reigning league champions St. Peter’s College, St. Anthony’s College Katugastota, DSS, Trinity College, St. Joseph’s College and Zahira.   

Defending champions Isipathana have received a bye and they are slated to play the winners of the quarter-final encounter between Zahira and DSS.   
St. Anthony’s will confront St. Joseph’s and St. Peter’s will take on Trinity and the two winners of this will confront each in the second semi-final.   

Isipathana who have won the President’s Trophy 11 times will no doubt be facing stiff challenge from St. Peter’s are the next best winners of the President’s trophy having won on eight occasions with the last being in the year 2019.   

But St. Anthony’s, St. Joseph’s, Trinity and DSS will be the teams to keep an eye as they are capable of turning the apple cart and could be one of the contenders.   
Meanwhile two other knockout tournaments the Premier Trophy and Chairman’s Trophy are scheduled to be played concurrently.   

The match schedule
President’s Trophy quarter-finals:
Isipathana – bye. August 25: D. S. Senanayake vs Zahira at Havelock Park – 4.15 p.m.; August 26: St. Anthony’s vs St. Joseph’s at Havelock Park – 4.15 p.m.; August 27: St. Peter’s vs Trinity at Havelock Park – 4.15 p.m.; Semi-finals: September 2 and 3 at Havelock Park; Final- September 10 at the Royal Sports Complex – 4.15 p.m.;Premier Trophy quarter-finals- August 25: Piliyandala Central vs Lumbini at Havelock Park – 2.00 p.m.; August 26: Mahanama vs Maliyadeva at Havelock Park – 2.00 p.m.; August 27: Sri Sumangala vs Ananda at Havelock Park – 2.00 p.m.;Semi-finals- September 2: Thurstan vs TBC at Havelock Park – 2.00 p.m.; Final - September 3: – 2.00 p.m. at Havelock Park; Final- September 9 at Royal Sports Complex – 4.15 p.m.; Chairman’s Trophy quarter-finals- August 25: Richmond vs Lalith Athulathmudali MV at Havelock Park – 10.00 a.m.; August 26: St. John’s vs Nalanda at Havelock Park – 10.00 a.m.; August 27: Rahula MV vs Siri Piyarathana MV at Havelock Park – 10.00 a.m.; Semi-finals: September 2 and 3 at 10.00 a.m. and 2.00 p.m.; Final- September 9 at Royal Sports Complex – 2.00 p.m.