Schools Rugby Preview – Week 6 (Cup Segment)

It has not been a joyful holiday for most of us as the country faced one of the biggest natural disasters since the 2004 Tsunami.

However, rugby will be back this weekend with eight teams now playing in the Cup segment. St. Joseph’s, D.S. Senanayake, Kingswood and Dharmaraja will be playing in the Plate segment after finishing in the bottom of segment 1A and 1B.

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St. Peter’s College, after a promising start in the first game against Kingswood, lost momentum as the league moved on. Their Center Theekshana Heshan, who scored 4 tries in the first game, has been one of the highlights for them. The Peterites just have not been able to execute their attacking strength in the back line yet.

Watch Live: Royal College vs St.Peter’s College

Royal on the other hand must be gutted not to have won their game against St. Joseph’s which ended in a 27 all draw. Their total point tally is 20, 6pts behind S. Thomas’ College who topped the segment 1A undefeated. Half back Ashok Wijekumar shifted position early on in the league and now he is pretty settled in his usual position at 9. He has been managing the game so well. Hosts Royal still remain favourites to win this Saturday but it is not going to be easy by any means.

It will be an interesting battle between Ashok and his opposite number Avishka Heenpella in terms of decision making. St. Peter’s speedster Diyath Fernando did find some form three weeks ago against Dharmaraja but he has to start again after the break. Skipper Sandesh Jayawickrama has not been able to create much of a spark this season playing at Full Back; he is a better player than his performances suggest. Playing Rahal Delpachitra at Lock is perhaps not the right decision, especially at the kickoff as he is not so good with the high ball. Hooker Ravin Yapa has been outstanding, delivering quality performances that have contributed to their success.

Although Royal slipped away in the second leg of the Bradby, they have had enough time to do their homework since then. Coach Martis knows his threat this weekend better than anyone, having also had a successful stint with the Blue, White and Gold in the past. Having said that, he might not try doing anything extravagant but will probably look to polish their forwards, around whom the game plan revolves.

Ones to watch:

RC – Nikhila Gunadeera (No8 / Captain)

SPC – Senura Premawardene (No8)

Top try Scorers:

RC – Hamza Reeza 3T, Azmir Fajudeen 3T, Ayesh Maduranga 3T

SPC – Theekshana Heshan 6T

Top Points Scorers:

RC – Ovin Askey 25 (8C 3P)

SPC – Stefen Sivaraj 34 (2T 6C 4P)

Last year’s score-line RC 36 – 25 SPC

The Thomians are looking solid this season and many pundits predict that this would be ‘THE YEAR’ for Thora rugby. They won the All Island 7s tournament in January and have continued their unbeaten run in the league. Having  balanced strengths both in the pack and the backs is something special this season. Naveen Heenakankanamge is the name that is in the spotlight, however, the Thomians will perhaps not depend on that one man but will hope to perform as a team. This game will also be a battle between the Top Try Scorer (Naveen Heenakankanamge) and the Top Points Scorer (Samuel Maduwantha).

Watch Live: S.Thomas’ College v St.Anthony’s College

The Antonian Eagles had a lucky escape against Kingswood in week 5; a superb conversion by their Fly Half Samuel Maduwantha gave St. Anthony’s the victory in the last seconds. Their set-pieces will be tested this week. Coach Viper Gunarathne is aware of his opposition and surely will play the territorial game, using Maduwantha’s long range kicks. Assistant Coach Nalaka Weerakkody has molded Maduwantha like a pro rugby player, but will he be able to take the pressure?

Ashwantha Herath is in fine form in the center but will the little Dion Dias start in the wing? That will be an interesting call for Coach Laga, because Dias can also make the kicks at the uprights. Wayne Mack and Christian De Lile have been good among the forwards for the Mount boys, but Mohamed Shabeer, the Antonian Lock Forward, could spoil the party in the lineouts and broken play as he’s been so good this season for the Eagles.

Ones to watch:

STC – Sachita Jayathilake (No8)

SACK – Samuel Maduwantha (Fly half)

Top try Scorers:

STC – Naveen Heenakankanamge 7T

SACK – Mohamed Shabeer 3T, Dinuk Amarasinghe 3T

Top Points Scorers

STC – Ashwantha Herath 38 (2T 11C 2P)

SACK – Samuel Maduwantha 60 (1T 8C 13P)

Last year’s score-line

SACK 17 – 30 STC

The win in the second leg of the Bradby Shield would have given a big moral boost to Coach Sean Wijesinghe’s boys. Skipper Rahul Karunathilake had one of his best games this season alongside Fly Half Lashane Wijesuriya and Center Sanjana Sangasinghe. Nathan Yee has to be good with his lineout throws, which will play a crucial part in the game.

Watch Live: Science College vs Trinity College 

Science on the other hand lost their unbeaten tag after a valiant effort in their 23-29 defeat to Isipathana in week 5. Nevertheless, Science College still remain favourites to win this game with some X factor in their fast running backs. Scrum Half Madumadawa is a key player, who controls proceedings and also uses his box kicks when necessary. Although the younger Maduranga has impressed in the wing, his brother Thanuja Maduranga has not played to his potential yet.

Ones to watch:

TCK – Shalindra Alahakoon (Flanker/No8)

SC– Janith Laksara (Flanker)

Top try Scorers:

TCK – Dilushka Dange 3T

SC – Tharindu Maduranga 6T

Top Points Scorers

TCK – Sanushka Abeywickrama 16 (2T 3C)

SC – Thanuja Maduranga 31 (8C 5P)

Last year’s score-line

SC 17 – 22 TCK

The Green Machine Isipathana College, having lost 12 players from last season, are still showing some class and have managed to remain unbeaten this year. Although some schools underestimated the Isipathana forwards, they have showed what a brutal force they are in the past five weeks; credit to coach Nilfer Ibrahim and Henry Terrance. Adeesha Weerathunga and Wageesha Weerasinghe are two exceptional talents on show.

Watch Live: Wesley College vs Isipathana College

Captain Kushan Idunil has been marshalling his troops very well and his center combination with Sumudu Padmasanka has been thriving. Chamod Fernando was on song in the wing so too the other wing Padmasanka, despite being a little clumsy in week 5.

Wesley College will consider themselves to be the unluckiest team as they were so close to beating Royal and Trinity in Round 1. Their win against Kingswood in the Blaze was a stunning showpiece. Coach Jivan Goonatilleke and Dennis Amal have worked tirelessly with these young double blues and Zayan Sabar has led this team well. Last year’s captain Omar Kuthubdeen has also found his form lately, which is a good sign.

Former Wesleyite Terrence knows Wesley’s strength and weaknesses well as he coached them last season.

Ones to watch:

WC – Avishka Lee (Scrum half)

IC – Gayan Wickramarathne (Full back)

Top try Scorers:

WC – Avantha Lee 3T

IC – Chamod Fernando 5T, Sumudu Rankothge 5T

Top Points Scorers

WC – Avishka Lee 28 (2T 9C)

IC – Gayan Wickramarathne 37 (2T 12C 1P)

Last year’s score-line IC 34 – 00 WC