Royal face tough task against Kingswood

Royal College which scored a hard fought 11-10 win over Isipatana College last week face the tough task of overcoming Kingswood College, Kandy in their schools under 20 ‘A’ Division Segment one match at Royal Sports Complex today.

The Kingswoodians are in a buoyant mood after their runaway 63-6 win over the Thomians last week and will go all out to topple Royal today and notch up another impressive win.

The forte of the Kingswoodians are their speedy three quarters. Fly half Lavanga Perera, centre Oshan Perera, full back Thilina Weerasinghe and winger Mohamed Nazri are in great form this season and should slice through the Royal defence today with centre Oshan Perera who scored six tries last week posing the biggest threat to the Reid Avenue school.

Royal will rely on their power-packed forwards Adil Jabbar, Iroshan de Alwis, Lahiru Pavithra, Wasim Bawa, Andrew Siriwardena and skipper Shehan Pathirana to deliver the goods.

But Royal’s biggest problem will be their weak defence and lack of fitness and they will have to give a much better display if they hope to keep the Kingswoodians at bay.

Trinity-Joes

Trinity College, Kandy which suffered a shock defeat at the hands of Science College last week will strive to make amends by overcoming St. Joseph’s College at Longden Place today.

Trinity led by Murad Ramzeen are likely to depend on their three quarters to give a dazzling display of open rugby.

In Sanjaya Somasiri and Rehan Weerakoon they have a fine halves combination while centres Dilshan Kelaniyage, Kenil Seneviratne, winger Sheik and that attacking full back Darshana Nayanakantha will test the Josephian defence to the hilt. The Joes led by No. 8 Malintha Zoysa will pin their hopes on their powerful forwards Yohan Keyser, Darren Hakel, Chirath Peiris, Praveen Nivantha, Malshan Salgado and skipper Malintha Zoysa to match upto the Trinity ‘eight’ and some resolute tackling by the ‘threes’ to contain the Trinitians.

St. Pete’s-Wesley

The high-riding defending champions St. Peter’s College should have the edge over the vastly improved Wesley College in their match at Havelock Park today.

The Wesleyites who held the Josephians to a 13-all draw last week after a gallant display against Royal losing 32-33 will face a difficult task against the Peterites.

The star studded three quarters of St. Peter’s - the halves combination of Rizwan Meedin and Dulaj Perera, centres Danushka Ranjan, Kevin Wimaladasa, full back and skipper Banuka Nanayakkara and that hard running winger Sandun Herath should tear apart the Wesley defence today.