Will Joes topple Petes today ?

Chris DHAMBARAGE

St. Peter's College will face an acid test when they confront their traditional rivals St. Joseph's College in their 51st annual inter school rugby encounter for the Rev. Fr. Basil Wiratunga Shield at the CR and FC grounds in Longden Place today.

The Rev. Fr. Basil Wiratunga Shield was first introduced in 1968 by the St. Peter's College Oldboys Union in memory of their late Rector even though the two schools played their inaugural rugby encounter way back in 1955.

Both teams have experienced mixed fortunes in the current season and will be hoping to bounce back into recognition with an improved performance. In fact St. Joseph's College got off to a spectacular start when they toppled the more fancied Trinity College team in their very first outing at the Pallekelle Stadium.

But since then the Josephians have failed to live upto expectations and have suffered defeats at the hands of Kingswood College Kandy, S. Thomas' College Mount Lavinia before overcoming St. Anthony's College Kandy.

St. Peter's College too made a promising start to their campaign where they recorded a smashing victory over Dharmaraja College Kandy in their opening match of the season. But thereafter they have really struggled to get their act together while going down to Isipatana College and Royal College respectively.

The Peterites believe that this will be a great chance for them to bounce back and redeem some of their lost prestige ahead of the remaining fixtures of the league tournament. Last year of course St. Peter's College cruised to a convincing 24 points to 7 points victory over St. Joseph's College at Bambalapitiya.

In fact St. Peter's College lead the series with a total of 33 victories to their credit while St. Joseph's College have emerged victorious on 12 occasions with five matches ending in draws. The odds will be heavily against St. Joseph's College as they have not won the Shield for ten years with their last victory been recorded way back in 1999.

The teams:

St Peter's: Johan Anderson, Salinda Mendis, Steve Nelson, Soyuru Anthony, Chathuranga Cabraal, Asitha Ratnayake, Chamith Madurawala, Shenal Dias, Rizwan Meedin and Keith Gurusinghe, Dhanushka Ranjan, Sandun Herath, Dilshan Paul (captain), Lakith Perera, Bhanuka Nanayakkara, Isuru Alwis, Devinda Fonseka, Kevin Wimaladasa, Srinath Perera.

St Joseph's: Dhanuka Anthony, Mayura Sanjeewa, Jananga Silva, Thurantha Dambadeniya, Adrian Hakel, Priyan Perera (captain), Ashantha Karunaratne, Chirath Perera, Kalana de Silva and Dilan Rambukwella, Romello Perera, Malintha Soysa, Dushan Dep, Janusha Bopage, Pulina Tissera, Jeremy Kelaart, Kushan Dias, Kaveesha Mihiranga, Suren Fonseka, Charith Umayanga.