Royal face a strong challenge from Antonians today

Defending champions Royal College will face a strong challenge from St Anthony's College, Kandy in their schools under 19 Singer segment one rugby match at the Royal Sports Complex, Reid Avenue today.

The Royalists withstood a fierce challenge from a gallant Josephian outfit to emerge victorious by 37-34 last week and will miss the services of skipper and star place kicker Arshad Jamaldeen for today's game. Utility player and second year coloursman Damien Ratwatte will move into the pivotal fly half berth and will pair off with Ravishan Dassanayake.

Sachin Mihiranga will come into the front row replacing Kaveen Perera. Hooker Lahiru Pavithra is a doubtful starter for today's game. If he does not play, his place will be taken by Shuaib Jabbar.

The forte of the Antonians are their formidable forwards. Led by No 8 Pandula Angammana, the Antonian forwards especially Kobinath Rajindra, Tharaka Premalal, Chinthaka Viraj, Gehan Wanigasekera and Yakoob Ali should give a torrid time to their counterparts from Royal – Eroshan de Alwis, Yasun Weerasuriya, Ashan Bandara, Shuaib Muthaliph, Andrew Siriwardene and Madusha Kularatne.

The teams:

Royal – Eroshan de Alwis (captain), Lahiru Pavithra or Shuaib Jabbar, Sachin Mihiranga, Wasim Bawa, Shuaib Muthaliph, Andrew Siriwardena, Yasun Weerasuriya, Madusha Kularatne, Ravishan Dassanayake and Damien Ratwatte, Ijaz Bohoran, Devin de Silva, Azman Khan, Nimshan Jayawardena, Rimzie Jamaldeen.

St Anthony's – Mohomed Shabith, Yakoob Ali, Johash Francis, Gehan Wanigasekera, Chinthaka Viraj, Kobinath Rajendra, Tharaka Premalal, Pandula Angammana (captain), Eranga Rambukwella and Fazlur Rahman, Ravinath Shiroshan, Charles Praveen, Danushka Madusanka, Lakshan Rambukwella, Shashika Wijeratne.