Royal, Isipathana in showdown for title victory

The Royal College team

The Isipathana College team

By M. Shamil Amit

The Dialog Schools Rugby League tournament has reached its final stage with defending champions Royal College taking on Isipathana College for the 2022 league title.   

The title decider will kick-off tomorrow (14) from 4.15 p.m. onwards at Havelock Park.   
The previous clashes between the two sides’ have been closely contested affairs and the two sides will be coming into the game with confidence.   

Isipathana College led by prop forward Nithina Wickramarachchi have won all six matches that they played -- five in the league and one Super Round -- while Royal College led by flanker Harsith Perera have won five and suffered one defeat in the league encounter to traditional rivals Trinity College. 

 
Looking at the form book, Isipathana skipper Wickramarachchi will rely on his in-form players hooker Sangeeth Kodagoda, centre Chamoth Iroshan, full back Malith Mihisara, flanker Tharindu Wewalpanditha, fly half Naveen Kanishka and winger Rinesh Silva to deliver the goods.   

Royal have a host of players they will depend on and skipper Perera’s two top players are second row Kaveen Sasanga and scrum half Hasnaka Higgoda who both have been in the forefront in Royal’s victories.  
Flanker Buwanaka Senanayake, winger Pasindu Heshan, winger Navin Perera, full back Nabil Yahya, second row Abdulla Yousuf, second row Rahil Wijesekera, prop Supun Gamlath, centre Bimsara Peiris and prop Shenal Adhikaram have also made their contributions for Royals success so far. 

 
Apart from the clash for the league title the two teams will also battle it out for the Major Milroy Fernando which was presented by Col. Dudley Fernando in honour of his son Milroy.   

Though Royal are the holders of the trophy having won on the last two occasions, with the last being under Thulaib Hussain in 2019, they are not going to have it easy as Isipathana who last won under Sumudu Rankothge in 2017 will leave no stone unturned to regain the trophy.   

However the Havelock Park boys lead the trophy win tally with 14 against to the 11 by the Reid Avenue boys from the 30 matches played for the Major Milroy Fernando Trophy since 1986.   

The Teams:

Royal - Harsith Peiris (Capt), Kaveen Sasanga, Navin Perera, Hasnaka Higgoda, Viboda Dabare, Thineth Gamage, Danuja Samararatne, Abdullah Yoosuf, Rahil Wijeyesekera, Randul Senananayke, Buwaneka Senanayake, Thivain Perera, Duljaya Gamanayake, Thevinu Saparamadu, Pasindu Heshan, Nabeel Yehiya, Supun Gamlath, Afeef Akram, Kavinash Srikanth, Yehan Weerasooriya, Yovindu Ethugala, Idrak Farouk, Bimsara Peiris, Idris Farouk, Amika Samarasinghe.   

Isipathana – Nithila Wickramasinghe (Capt), Kenula Hettiarachchi, Malith Mihisara, Venura Sangeeth, Chamath Iroshan, Rinesh Silva, Sangeeth Kodagoda, S. Dinusara, Kavin. Tharusha, Soorya Dodangoda, Tharindu Wewalpanditha, Dunith Jayaweera, Nvaeen Kanishka, D.L. Akash, D. Sansoni. S de Costa, K.D. Fernando, N. Mapitagama, G.C. Gamage, D. Sebastian, T. Ranaweera, M. Rasminda, H. Randimal, M. Heshan, A. Ibrahim, D. Wickramaarachchi