Royal won’t have it easy against Science

Chris DHAMBARAGE

Royal College will be looking to add the finishing touches to a magnificent season when they take on Science College, Mount Lavinia in their Singer inter-school under 20 division one league rugby tournament final match at the Royal Sports Complex in Reid Avenue tomorrow.

This could turn out to be a memorable outing for skipper Shehan Pathirana and his champion outfit as Royal College is set to regain the prestigious league title after a lapse of one year.

The last time they emerged league champions was in 2009 under the captaincy of fly half Naren Dhason where they put up a similar performance to remain unbeaten throughout the season.

This time too they have faced some tough situations both on and off the field and have overcome all challenges and obstacles to register ten successive victories in the league tournament.

In fact last week they came out with their best performance for the season to beat the reigning champions St. Peter’s College 50-41 in an absorbing encounter played at Bambalapitiya.

That effort certainly showed their character and commitment as they came from behind after trailing 21-24 at half time to turn the game in their favour with a spectacular second half rally.

Royal of course went through some anxious moments at the beginning of the season and struggled to beat Wesley College (33-32) and Isipatana College (11-10) as they figured in two very close encounters.

But thereafter they have showed a tremendous improvement and have made steady progress with convincing victories over St. Joseph’s (38-31), Kingswood (33-25), Thurstan (72-0), Dharmaraja (50-5), Trinity (33-25), St. Anthony’s (40-13) and S. Thomas’ (22-7) respectively.

Even then Royal will need to concentrate on the game until the final whistle as Science College have built up a reputation as the most unpredictable team in the current inter school rugby season.

Their record speaks volumes with two stunning victories at the start of the tournament against the top favourites Trinity College (12-11) and Kingswood College, Kandy (20-17) respectively.

Science College continued with their impressive form and last week they managed to register a historic 31-nil victory over S. Thomas’ College, Mount Lavinia.

This has been easily their most productive year in the history of schools rugby with five victories from ten outings and will be determined to make an impact in their final outing of the tournament.

The teams:

Royal College: Iroshan de Alwis, Aadil Jabbar, Yasim Yousuf, Malaka Ihalagedera, Lahiru Pavithra, Wasim Bawa, Andrew Siriwardena, Shehan Pathirana (captain), Ravishan Dassanayake and Arshad Jamaldeen, Anjana Kudahetty, Azman Khan, Rimzi Jamaldeen, Dileepa Jayatillake, Damien Ratwatte.

Science College: Gayan Lasantha, Zuhail Imtiasz, Thilina Sandaruwan, Heshan Anuruddha, Nimesh Channa (captain), Kanchana Lakshitha, Sharindu Iroshana, Malith Jayaruwan, Richard Dharmapala and Richie Dananjaya, K. B. Oshan, Andrew Bradley, Thusitha Gomes, Hashan Maduranga, Ashan Malik.