It was a weekend of upsets with most of last year’s top ranked teams with the exception of SPC stumbling in their respective opening games.
Week 1 Results
•Science bt Royal 36-19
•St Joseph’s bt Kingswood 27-21
•St Peter’s bt St Anthony’s 50-12
•Wesley bt Isipathana 25-23
•Trinity drew with Dharmaraja 34-all
First upset was recorded in Reid Avenue as Science College recorded a commendable 36-19 victory versus Royal. This was the first time that Science has beaten the more fancied Royalists in the schools league. The Royal defense had no answers to the Science barrage and had to pay with an humiliating defeat versus some real fighters.
St Joseph’s also got the better of their more fancied rival in the form of Kingswood when they beat them in another hard fought 27-21 encounter on day 1.
St Peter’s was the only team from last year’s top 4 to win their game when the bulldozed through St Anthony’s College to retain the Rector’s Trophy in a game that was play in Ratmalane. Anthonian did fight back in the second half to restrict the Peterites to a solitary try where they led 43-07 at lemons.
In the only game on Saturday, rugby fans were given another close tussle as newly promoted Wesley gave the defending champions Isipathana the fright of their lives. The see saw battle so the lead been exchanged several time during the course of the match but it was a last minute penalty that gave Wesley a well-deserved victory.
In the only game played in the hills this weekend saw home rivals Trinity and Dharmaraja locking horns. DCK fresh from their unbeaten B division campaigned gave Trinity a run for their money in their first game in the big league. Trinity had to come from behind to secure a tie as they failed to convert the last try.
With 3 close games and 4 upsets this weekend we can say we the rugby lovers will be up for a fantastic season this year. Our rugby correspondent says watch out for Trinity, Dharmaraja and Wesley in the coming weeks!
Week 2 Fixtures
Isipathana vs Dharmaraja – Bogambara – 26th March TBC*
Trinity vs Science – Mount – 23rd March
Royal vs Kingswood – Royal Complex – 23rd March
St Peter’s vs St Joseph’s (Trophy Match) – CR&FC – 23rd March
Wesley vs St Anthony’s – CR&FC – 22nd March
Click here to view the Schools Rugby Points Table – Guidelines
