Trinity College travel down to Havelock Park to take on an on-song St. Joseph’s College outfit in week 4 of the Schools Rugby League. The hosts come into the game against Trinity as favorites for the first time in a long time.
Will the visitors manage to sink the Josephian battleship to end their unbeaten start to the season?
When? 22nd March 2019
Where? Havelock Park
Kick off – 4.15pm
- Past Encounters
Trinity College has dominated the Josephians in the past, however, the power has shifted in the past few years with the Josephians coming close in 2017 and winning the last time these two teams met in 2018 – away at Pallekale after 2009.
Trinity College thumped the Josephians back in 2012 at Pallekale, but faced defeat the very next year at Longdon Place in 2013.
The Lions got their revenge of 2013, defeating the lads from Maradana in 2014 (TCK 34-17 SJC) and continued their dominance over the outfit from Colombo in 2015.
- 2016 – TCK Won 40-14
- 2017 – TCK Won 30-25
- 2018 – SJC Won 32-25
Read More: St. Joseph’s breaks Trinity hearts in topsy turvy clash
- Most Recent Games
The hosts have begun the 2019 season in flying fashion, winning their first 3 games, against Science College in the opening week followed by victories against St. Anthony’s College and Zahira College.
Read More: Seven-try St. Joseph’s in seventh heaven
Trinity College on the other hand, got off to a winning start at Zahira College, but faced a speed bump at the hands of Isipathana College in week two, up at Pallekale.
The Lions got back into winning ways last weekend, defeating arch rivals St. Anthony’s College, getting their season back on track.
Read: The Eagles ambushed at the Lion’s den
- Players to watch out for
Rashane Gunawardena has continued from where he left off last season with 3 tries to his name, winning the ThePapare.com Player of the Match award in the season opener while fellow halfback Santhush Algama has impressed, winning ThePapare.com Player of the Match in the remaining couple of games as the 9 & 10 have pulled the strings for the Josephians throughout.
Power packed, direct running Centre with 3 tries from 3 games, Tharindu Maduranga is another Josephian three-quarter to have an eye out for.
Meanwhile captain Tharindu De Alwis and Gershorm Thangiah, the pair who controlled proceedings in the forward pack will also be important to the Joes’ cause.
Sitting pretty on top of the try scoring charts with 4 tries to his name, winger Geeshapa Kulathunga will no doubt be a threat against the Josephians alongside fellow back-three partner and captain Reshan Bandaranayake.
Loose-forward Rahul Danaraj will be one to look out for in the Lions forward pack as they seek to put an end to the Josephian winning start to the season.
- Predictions
A game against the giant from the Hill Capital poses a different threat, however, if recent form is anything to go by, the Josephians come in as clear cut favorites and should be able to edge out the visitors.
SJC to win by 3-8 points.
