St. Joseph’s confront Trinity, close tussle expected

By M. Shamil Amit

Two top rugby playing schools St. Joseph’s College and Trinity College confront each other tomorrow (22) in what is expected to be a blockbuster with a close tussle for supremacy expected at Havelock Park with lick off set for 4.15pm.

However gauging the performances of the two teams the scale is in favour of St. Joseph’s who began their campaign in an unsettled way have now settled down and Trinity on the other hand have so far been inconsistent.

St. Joseph’s led by No 8 Tharindu de Alwis began the season with a close 20-14 win against Science College but got back to their stride to record two run away wins against St Anthony’s College (38-5) and Zahira College (47-5) thus keeping their unbeaten record in tack.

Trinity led by Rashan Gunawardena got off with a 22-11 win against Zahira but were tamed in their own den by Isipathana College, to whom they went down 15-27 but came back to record a convincig 35-10 win over hometown rivals St Anthony’s.

The two teams have in their ranks talented players who have been in the thick of happenings in the matches played so far. The Josephians besides skipper Tharindu posses players in the caliber of Tharindu Maduranga, Santhush Algama, Rashane Gunawardena, Sudaraka Devapriya, Gershorm Thangaiah and Nehan Perera.

The Lions too posses players who are capable of giving their opponents some torrid moments in the likes of Geeshapa Kulatunga, Rahul Danaraj, Tevinn Karunanayake, Dulandith Nethwara, Nimesh Ekanayake and Dhirendra Ratwatte.

Though the Lions have been dominating proceedings in the past the Josephians have now evolved to side to be reckoned with as in the last years they have beaten the Trinitians on two occasions including last year (32-25).

According to the performances of the two sides the scale is in favour of the Josephians who ended up second in both the league and knockout tournaments last year.

All in all as mentioned the supporters of the two sides can witness a close tussle for supremacy and Trinity will no doubt leave no stone unturned to prevent the Jospehians from recoding their fourth successive win.