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| Wednesday, 18 August 2004 |
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Josephians out to create a major upset by Chris Dhambarage St. Joseph's College will be hoping to create a major upset when they confront Wesley College in their Milo Schools President's trophy knock out rugby tournament quarter-final match at the Sugathadasa Stadium today. The kick off is at 6.30 p.m after the game between Ananda College and Isipatana College which is scheduled to start at 5.00 p.m. The Josephians are a confident lot having lifted the 'B' division league title with an unbeaten record. They defeated Prince of Wales College Moratuwa, Lumbini MV, Dharmaraja College Kandy, Thurstan College, St. Sylvester's College Kandy and figured in an 18 all draw against their traditional rivals St. Peter's College. The Wesleyites after a promising start to the season failed to live upto expectations and had to be satisfied with the third place in the 'A' division league points table. They started in style while recording impressive victories over S. Thomas' College Mount Lavinia, Isipatana College and St. Anthony's College Kandy. But there after they lost their rhythm somewhat and went down to Royal and their traditional rivals Kingswood College Kandy before overcoming a fighting Ananda outfit in a close game 25-20. St. Joseph's College too had the credit of stretching their more fancied opponents S. Thomas' College Mount Lavinia in their annual encounter played for the Lady Jayatilleke Shield last week. St. Joseph's College were heading towards their first win over the Thomians in five years before a last minute try shattered their hopes. Meanwhile Isipatana College and Ananda College will lock horns in another quarterfinal match to be worked off at the same venue today. The Anandians of course will go in with a psychological advantage having comprehensively beaten the same opponents in a league tournament fixture. In the past the Anandians have always proved that they reach the peak form during the knock out stages and now they seem to have a better chance to beat the former champions for the second time this year. Ananda has a better track record in the knock out tournaments more than in the league championship and that is one reason which has made them strong contenders to reach the final. Even then this will the last chance for Isipatana to prove themselves after going through a bad season in the 'A' division league championship. They will be demoted to the 'B' division from next year having failed to win a single match in the league and now they have a good chance to redeem some of their lost prestige. However the odds will be heavily against Isipatana because they even struggled to beat their traditional rivals Thurstan College who are competing in the 'B' division league tournament and placed fourth in the final points table. Not only that from six outings in the league tournament Isipatana have crossed their opponents goal line only on seven occasions which means that they have not scored more than a try in one match. Ananda too have managed to score the same number of tries in the league tournament but their defence have been more solid notching up three good victories to finish in the fourth place of the final points table. The 'A' division league champions Kingswood College Kandy have already qualified to meet their home town rivals St. Anthony's College in the semifinals. |
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