Isipatana - strong contender for League Title

Isipatana College with no less than 12 coloursmen in their ranks will be a strong contender for the schools under 20 division one league rugby title this year.

"This year we field a formidable outfit and our aim is to clinch the division one league title which has eluded us for several years," said the Chairman of Isipatana rugby, Hassan Singhawansa.

"We have a powerful set of forwards and a speedy set of three quarters and our aim is to win the league title and make amends for our disappointing display last year, said Singhawansa.

Isipatana finished fifth in last year's league and went down fighting to S. Thomas by 21-22 in the Milo knock-out final.

This year the lads from Havelock Town will be led by centre Ashan Gallage and will have the services of seasoned campaigners deputy skipper Tharindu Siriwardena (No. 8), flankers Deshanth Subashana, Sajid Suhayb, lock forward Muksheed Kuthdoos, prop Danushka Suriyarachchi, scrum half Mohamed Rizwan, fly half Prasad Devinda, centre Mohamed Ali, wingers Yuresh Fonseka and Prashan Attanayake and full back Malik Jamath.

The Isipatanians are training hard under the watchful eyes of their coaches Shamly Nawaz and Sajith Mallikarachchi with Tavou Alailima as the fitness trainer. But the Isipatanians will face a strong challenge from St. Peter's and S. Thomas.

The Peterites who won the Rugby Sevens title by overcoming Trinity in the final will be led by fly half Keith Gurusinghe and will have the services of coloursmen No. 8 Shenal Dias, prop forward Steve Nelson, scrum half Rizwan Meedin, centres Bhanuka Nanayakkara and Danushka Ranjan and fly half Anish Fernando.

The Peterites will clash with Isipatana in the curtain-raiser of the tournament at Havelock Park on April 24.

The star studded Thomian outfit led by No. 8 Rajindra Gunasekera will take on last year's division two champions Wesley College at Mount Lavinia on the same day.

The Thomians who will have the services of 12 senior players will have outstanding ruggerites of the calibre of Anuruddha Wilwara, Jeremy Fernando, Shehan Muthutantri and last year's skipper Shaveen Kapuwatte.

Trinity led by hooker Damith Dissanayake will lock horns with Dharmaraja at Pallekelle on April 24 while on the same day home town rivals Kingswood and St. Anthony's will clash at Nittawela.

Last year's champions Royal led by centre Duminda Attygalle will play host to Prince of Wales at the Royal Sports Complex on April 24.