Peterites out to clinch Rugby Double

Confront Royal in President's Trophy final today:

St Peter's College, Colombo who are enjoying a marvellous season will go all out to clinch the Rugby Double when they confront Royal College, Colombo in the final of the Milo President's Trophy rugby final at Royal Sports Complex today.

The unbeaten Peterites bagged the schools Division One title of the SINGER 'A' Division League Rugby Tournament by winning eight matches out of nine with the game against S Thomas' ending in a 31-all draw.

In contract the Royalists who began the season with four successive wins then suffered three defeats in a row but came back storming to beat Trinity College by 38-37 and 34-17 in both matches of the Bradby Shield and also scored a smashing 38-12 win over the Thomians to end up in third position in the League. The Peterites received a walkover from traditional rivals St Joseph's in the quarter-finals of the President's Trophy while the semi-finals against Isipatana ended abruptly due to an unruly crowd with the Peterites leading 14-0 after 30 minutes play and three days later were awarded victory when Isipatana refused to take the field when the match was to be continued. Royal made it a hat-trick of wins over Trinity by overcoming them 23-13 in the quarter-finals and staged a superb second half rally against Wesley to emerge victorious by 20-12 in the semi-finals after trailing 0-12 at 'lemons'.

When those two teams clashed in the league tournament the Peterites edged out Royal by 22-20 and another close game is on the cards today.

The final should turn out to be a battle between the speedy Peterite three quarters and the power-packed Royal forwards. The Peterite halves combination of Rizwan Meedin and ex-Wesleyite Dulaj Perera have hit it off smoothly with Meedin's breaks from the base of the scrum having the opponents defence in disarray. Centres Danushka Ranjan and Bhanuka Nanayakkara have sliced through the opponents defence with their side-stepping and speed with Ranjan having scored a hat-trick of tries in the league match against Royal. Wingers Sandun Herath and Lakith Pieris too should test Royal defence to the hilt with their powerful runs down the flank in addition to an attacking full back in Kevin Wimaladasa.

Royal's forte have been their powerful forwards spearheaded by No 8 Shehan Pathirana who has been a source of inspiration to his teammates with his fiery loose play. Yudith Karunaratne, Adil Jabbar, Iroshan de Alwis, Shehan Dassanayake and Thilina Ratnayake too have given of their best which has resulted in the Royal 'eight' outplaying their counterparts in the loose.

ROYAL: Yudith Karun- aratne, Adil Jabbar, Iroshan de Alwis, Lahiru Pavithra, Thilina Ratnayake, Shehan Dassanayake, Chilanka Samaraweera, Shehan Pathirana (Captain), Deen Cassim and Arshad Jamaldeen, Dilshan Palihakkara, Hilmy Jamaldeen, Mushin Faleel, Rimzie Jamaldeen, Chamara Dabare.

ST PETER'S: Steve Nelson, Chathuranga Mendis, Shalin Mendis, Seyuru Anthony, Asitha Krishan, Asitha Ratnayake, Shenal Dias, Keith Gurusinghe (Captain), Rizwan Meedin and Dulaj Perera, Sandun Herath, Danushka Ranjan, Bhanuka Nanayakkara, Lakith Perera, Kevin Wimaladasa.

Referee: Dilroy Fernando.