Peterites out to retain President’s Trophy

Confront Isipatana in the final today:

Chris Dhambarage

League runners up St. Peter’s College will be hoping to retain the Milo Schools President’s Trophy for the second successive year when they confront Isipatana College in their knock out tournament final at the Royal College Sports Complex grounds in Reid Avenue today.

This game is of great significance for both teams as they are keen to conclude the current inter school rugby season on a winning note after having experienced mixed fortunes during the Singer Premier League tournament.

However the absence of some of the top teams have given both St. Peter’s College and Isipatana College to make amends and redeem some of their lost prestige. Both teams of course cruised into the final without any great difficulties and a rousing game is on the cards.

In fact the two teams figured in an absolute thriller earlier in the season with the Peterites pulling off the league match by a solitary point 8-7 at Havelock Park. Since then both teams have made steady progress with St. Peter’s College ending up in third position in the league while Isipatana College finished in the sixth place.

Even then Isipatana College have always performed well in the knock out tournaments and they have a fine reputation of making an impact in the most important encounters. In fact Isipatana have reached the Milo President’s Trophy final for the 16th time having earlier won the title on nine occasions and have emerged runners up six times.

This is also a repeat of last year’s final and Isipatana will be out to avenge that defeat with an improved performance. They of course went through some anxious moments before overcoming St. Anthony’s College 27-24 in the semi-finals after having trounced Wesley College 34-nil in the quarter-finals.

In contrast St. Peter’s College powered their way into the final with two big victories in the quarter-finals against Nalanda College (58-6) and Mahanama College (60-nil).

The teams:

St. Peter’s: Steve Nelson, Leigh Keegal, Roshan Fonseka, Soyuru Anthony, Shenal Dias, Ruwan Danushka, Purnaka Delpachithra (captain), Ishan Noor, Bhanuka Nanayakkara and Harsha Weerakkody, Keith Gurusinghe, Dilshan Paul, Gerard Canute, Lakitha Perera, Amila Fernando.

Isipatana: Dimitra Wijesinghe, Thilina Lanka, Danushka Suriyarachchi, Madushan Abeykoon, Anushka Fernando, Uthpala Senaratne, Tharindu Siriwardena, Dinusha Dananjaya, Srinath Suriyabandara and Nilushan Fernando, Vishwamithra Jayasinghe, Damith Udayanga, Dinusha Chaturanga (captain), Ashan Gallage, Prasad Devinda.

Referee: Priyantha Gunaratne.