Royal College favoured against St. Anthony’s College

Royal College will feature for one last time this season when they lock horns with St. Anthony’s College in their Sri Lanka Schools conducted Dialog Rugby League Under 19 Super Round encounter which will take place at the Bogambara Stadium in Kandy tomorrow.

Kick-off is scheduled at 4 pm. The Antonians are the only outstation outfit to qualify for this year’s Super Round out of the five teams from Kandy.

They are led by cracking fly-half and one of the best leaders in schools rugby this season Sahan Keerthisiri.

The Antonians shocked St. Joseph’s College in the season opener 22-12 before they were shocked by D. S. Senanayake 23-19 in the second home game.

They came back strongly to beat Wesley College 30-29, Kingswood 27-16 but lost to Isipathana 37-26, coming back strongly in the latter half before running out of time in the end.

They needed a bonus point win against the St. Thomas’ College which they did, winning 34-17. Their Super Round game against the St. Peter’s College, not go well for them after some poor rugby cost out in a one sided affair 39-00 at Bambalapitiya.

Their nippy scrum-half Oshan Gunarathne has been omnipresent. He linked both the forwards and three quarters beautifully and his decision
making was spot on.

The outfit is coached by former Isipathana College and Kandy SC player Srinarth Sooriyabandara while Asitha Ratnayake is looking after the forwards.

Meanwhile Royal College is led by Randul Senanayake. They have some outstanding players who could pace out the game for the entire 70 minutess.

Thanvir Hassen, Philio Calyanarathna, Nabeel Yehya and Shimak Shafeek all could breach any defense in the school segments this year.

The two games against Zahira College (03-03) and Dharmaraja College (12-12) were tied at half time, but they cut loose in the second half to score and pull away.

Royal too had an uneven start to their season losing out to the Peterites 11-05 but bounced back strongly to beat Science 40-10, Vidyartha 47-03, Zahira 44-03 and Dharmaraja 36-18.

They were shell shocked by Trinity College when they were defeated 13-10 in their first leg of the Bradby Shield but came back strongly in the second leg in Colombo when they not only won that match 27-17 but also were able to hold onto the Shield at Reid Avenue for yet another year.

They beat Isipathana 22-17 in their last encounter in the Super Round to regained the Major Milroy Fernando Trophy which also ended Isipathana’s unbeaten run.

Royal outfit is coached by Dushantha Lewke and their forwards coach is Radhika Hettiarachchi. Referee not yet finalised. (Shamseer Jaleel)