Action in the deciding schools rugby encounter between St. Peter’s and Isipathana played at Bambalapitiya over the weekend.

The curtains of the schools rugby league tournament, which came down last weekend, saw St. Peter’s ending up as worthy champions in style with a convincing 28-17 win over defending champions Isipathana, as they remained unbeaten right throughout the tournament, winning all eight matches that they played.

The achievement of becoming champions saw them laying their hands on the title after a lapse of 13 years when the team was led by Keith Gurusinghe, and the coach at that time was Sanath Martis, of whom there was a negative response in recent times.

But the experienced coach Martis, apart from the two winning titles (2010 and 2023), was the coach when the Peterites emerged as league champions on two other occasions, which were in 2006 when the side was led by Haren Ariyawardena and 2007 when led by Ranuka Jayasinghe.

An official of the champion St. Peter’s team, speaking to the Daily Mirror, stated that the achievement of the boys, spearheaded by skipper Ashain Madugasge, was undoubtedly due to the dedication and determination put in by them.

“We have to thank the school authorities, the parents, the rugby development committee comprising Mangala Dharmapriya, the immediate president, and Samson Roy, the incumbent president, the parents, and not forgetting the host of sponsors like Trishan Sathyadeva, Managing Director of Nabco based in the UK, the platinum sponsor; Themiya de Mel, TDM International UK, the principal sponsor; Ranjith Page, Cargills PLC; Dr. Clive James, AJ Medichem International; and Dr. Pradeep Edward, Hemas Hospitals, for having confidence in us, and we are happy to have fulfilled our ambition of becoming the 2023 All Island Schools Rugby Champions". (M. Shamil Amit /  Pic: Kushan Pathiraja)