Isipathana come out as favorites today

Chris DHAMBARAGE

Isipatana College will start as favourites to retain the Abdul Jabbar Shield when they take on the traditional rivals Thurstan College in their annual inter school rugby encounter at the Police Park today.

Isipatana have dominated the series from the inception and will be hoping to pull off a morale boosting victory ahead of the Milo President’s Trophy knock out tournament.

This season Isipatana experienced mixed fortunes in the Singer inter school Under 20 division one league tournament where they finished fourth in the final points table.

They had the satisfaction of overcoming both Royal College and S. Thomas’ College, Mount Lavinia and also had the better of Wesley, St. Anthony’s College, Kandy and Dharmaraja College, Kandy.

However their hopes of winning the title was shattered following two early defeats at the hands of St. Peter’s College and Kingswood College, Kandy and also went down fighting against Trinity College, Kandy.

Thurstan College have just completed their league tournament matches where they emerged runners-up in the division two while losing to St. Joseph’s College 19-47 in the deciding encounter.

Until then Thurstan had a smooth run where they had the credit of recording a series of impressive victories against Mahanama (13-12), Lumbini MV (13-8), Ananda (37-5), Kannangara MMV, Borella (14-8) and Zahira (38-12). In addition they figured in a 24 all draw against Vidyartha College, Kandy.

Thurstan College have also qualified to participate in the upcoming Milo Premier Trophy knock out tournament and will be keen to get the maximum exposure while playing against their more fancied opponents.

The teams:

Isipatana: Heshana Sudharaka, Dhanushka Sooriyarachchi, Prasad Madushanka, M. Gayashan, Rukshan Jalil, Sajid Suhayb, Deshanth Subashana, Tharindu Anuruddha, Shenal de Costa and Prasad Devinda, Ashan Chaturanga, Yuresh Fonseka, Umayanga Sooriyabandara, Prashan Attanayake, Malik Jumath

Thurstan: Hafiz Adahan, Viduranga Weerasinghe, Thilina Dananjaya, Chameera Maduranga, Thanuj Gunaratne, Danushka Vithanage, Senura Keheliya, Chaturanga Jayashanka, Kavindu Gihan and Dulaj Gunawardena, Mithun Danushka, Gayan Pushpakumara, Amila Shiranga, Kasun Wadimuni, Ishan Samarakkody.