Isipatana face strong challenge from Petes

Chris Dhambarage

Former champions Isipatana College will face a tough challenge when they take on the formidable St. Peter’s College outfit in a key Singer inter school under 20 division one League rugby tournament match at Havelock Park today.

Both teams of course will be coming out for the first time during the new season and will be determined to make a good start in their attempt to underline their authority.

Peterites bagged the Western Province and the All Island seven-a-side tournament respectively.

But Isipatana decided to skip both tournaments as they were more keen in building up the side for the prestigious League tournament. After several months of intense training and preparations now they are well set to unleash their rugby powers and to redeem their lost prestige.

Last year they had the satisfaction of defeating St. Peter’s 22-12 but overall they experienced mixed fortunes and were placed fifth in the final points table of the League tournament. Isipatana eventually went on to emerge runners up in the knock out tournament where they went down to S. Thomas’ College Mount Lavinia 19-22 in a close final. St. Peter’s also had mixed fortunes last year and they are keen to make a winning start to the tournament. Their early success in the two seven a side tournaments no doubt have given them a tremendous morale booster as they hope to carry that excellent form into the league tournament.

The Peterites will be led by dynamic fly half Keith Gurusinghe but the key player in their lineup would probably be their crack number eight Shenal Dias who has the potential to turn the game with a match winning performance.

The other senior players in the Peterite team are prop forward Steve Nelson, scrum half Rizwan Meedin, centres Bhanuka Nanayakkara, Dhanushka Ranjan and fly half Anish Fernando.

Isipatana will be captained by speedy centre three quarter Ashan Gallage and the other senior players in the lineup are vice captain and number eight Tharindu Siriwardena, flankers Deshanth Subashana, Sajid Suhayb, second row forward Muksheed Kuthdoose, prop forward Dhanushka Suriyarachchi, scrum half Mohamed Rizwan, fly half Prasad Devinda, centre Mohamed Ali, wingers Yuresh Fonseka, Prashan Attanayake and full back Malik Jamath.

Royal v Prince of Wales

Meanwhile the defending champions Royal College will start their campaign with a fixture against Prince of Wales College Moratuwa at the Royal Sports Complex in Reid Avenue today.This time of course Royal have lost some of their stalwarts who made a huge impact last year where they were able to maintain an unbeaten record throughout the season.

However captained by speedy centre three quarter Duminda Attygalle they have made some good preparations and are set to reach the peak form mid way during the season. In fact Royal will have the bonus of playing two easy games in their first two outings of the competition.

After the match against the Cambrians they are scheduled to meet the last year’s ‘B’ division champions Wesley College next week which will give them enough time to fine tune their vital links.

S. Thomas’ v Wesley

Last year’s League runners up S. Thomas’ College will begin their campaign for the Singer division one title with a match against Wesley College on their home grounds at Mount Lavinia.

The Thomians are set to pull off this game but are certain to receive some stiff resistance from their opponents.

The Wesleyites will be determined to prove their presence in the Premier league after a highly successful season in the Division Two tournament last year. They are now anxious to make their presence felt and had a good work out at the Mount Lavinia beach a couple of days ago in a clever tactical move to counter attack their more fancied opponents.