Isipatana out to retain Jabbar Shield

Chris DHAMBARAGE

Isipatana College will be hoping to retain the Abdul Jabbar Shield for another year when they take on the traditional rivals Thurstan College in their 42nd annual inter school rugby encounter at Longden Place tomorrow.

This match is of great significance for Isipatana College who will be keen to conclude the ongoing Singer inter school under 20 division one league tournament on a high note.

They are currently placed second in the points table and look set to emerge as the league runners up following a fantastic tournament where they had the distinction of recording nine victories.

In contrast Thurstan College are struggling at the bottom of the points table as they look to redeem some of their lost prestige.

They of course had the satisfaction of recording a superb 22-8 victory against the more fancied S. Thomas' outfit.

This time they will be hoping to draw inspiration from that success as they look to contain the powerful Isipatana three quarters who have produced some scintillating rugby throughout the season.

Last week of course Isipatana had a tough outing as they were restricted to just a couple of tries before overcoming St. Anthony's College 10-5 at the Bogambara Stadium in Kandy.

Thurstan College suffered a 3-41 drubbing at the hands of Trinity College in their previous outing and will be looking to produce an improved performance.

Isipatana College: Nipuna Devinda, Thusitha yasoda, Manaka Yadala, Gandu Weerasinghe, Arun Kumar, Kumendra Dharmadasa, Sajith Suaib, Prasad Madushanka, Kavindu Costa and Hirantha Perera, Prasad Devinda (captain), Shamal Chaturanga, Shinal Dias, Nicalanka Pramoda, Shanaka Kumara.

Thurstan College: Hafiz Noor (captain), Kalana Sankalpa, Ashan Pasindu, Chameera Maduranga, Kanishka Dissanayake, Indunil Umesh, Avishka Sankalpa, Thanuja Gunaratne, Thivanka Randhika and Bhoomika Dananjaya, Senura Keheliya, Gayan Lasantha, Mithun Danushka, Ishan Avishka, Kalinga Perera.