Week 6 match predictions were accurate barring some score margins as Science College made a thrilling contest against St. Joseph and St. Peters had one of the best comebacks after trailing 20 – 00 in the 15th minute of the game.
St. Peters v Royal 06.06.2015 KO: 4.30pm Bambalapitiya
Kevin Dixon’s boys are delighted after the Herculean finish against the Trinitians. When your team is down to 13 men with both the centers off to sin-bin for 10 minutes and you manage to score two tries, it is phenomenal. Can St. Peters beat the unbeaten Royal team? Royal have played only three away games – RC 17 – 05 DRCK (Bogambara), RC 52 – 00 STC (Havelocks), RC 23 – 22 TCK (Pallekele) those are the results.
However, these stats perhaps will be no bother for Royal when playing at the SPC grounds. No one knows how to play better on those grounds than Sanath Matis the coach of Royal. He has worked with St. Peters and won many a silverware. The results of the game will also perhaps decide on how well Peterites counter the Royal driving maul. Supun Warnakulasuriya is in the form of his life and is one fine architect to control the strength of their driving maul.
Royal has a very good bench strength in comparison to the opposite team this Saturday. Banuka Gamage and Dixon taking each other will be an interesting battle. SPC have scored 90% of their tries through backs and Royal almost 60% through their forwards and out of that Supun’s work rate is around 80% with 12 tries on it.
Score Prediction : If SPC did not win by 2 RC will win 10+
Science v Isipathana 07.06.2015 KO: 4.30pm Mt. Lavinia
Joes failed the Science test last week in a thrilling encounter. Science has so much courage and trust in each of their players. But it was captain Lasindu Ishan and the Maduranga brothers who are in the limelight. Isipathana on the other hand run even stronger to defend their title after winning convincingly over S. Thomas 62 – 15. The surprise was that captain Omalka Gunarathne could not cross over the line, but it was an ‘A’ performance by the rest of the 14 and food for thought for those who felt Isipathana rugby is only about Omalka.
Greens play so well in counter attack and their backs are electrifying and also their understanding in the running game is simply outstanding. Have said that, this will not be an easy test for the Greens if Science play to their potential. Nevertheless, it will be a battle worth the money on Sunday.
Score Prediction : Isipathana win by 6
Trinity v Kingswood 06.06.2015 KO: 4.30 pm Pallekele
The oldest fixture in the island and the Kandy Derby is expected to be a full house. Trinity were able to win for the last 6 years. Last year it was 25 – 23 with a last minute try by Saranga Gunathilaka for the Lions. But both the teams are in a losing streak in this league. Trinity lost the plot in Bambalapitiya last week. Their defensive structure needs to improve. They have the quality but it is not stable both in attack and defense. Isuru Rangala’s leadership role will once again be tested, also the seniors like Thusila Perera and Rahul Karunathilaka have not been that impressive with the recent performances and they need to add 110%. Saranga Gunathilaka, the current highest point’s scorer was left out last week due to a concussion and is now more likely to play this weekend.
Kingswood still could not make a big impact this season although they went so close 13 – 12 a point loss against St. Peters in the first round. Reeza Raffaideen has scored 59 points to his College, Srinath Wimalaweera the flanker and Shenesh Kawshika the little #08 are playing their hearts out in this season. Nevertheless, Trinity looks favourites with home advantage but this Kingswood team is not short of talent to spoil the Lions party.
Score Prediction : TCK win by 10
S. Thomas’ v St. Joseph 06.06.2015 KO : 4.30 pm CR & FC 
Both teams coming with last week defeats, S. Thomas’ showed some intensity in the first few minutes in the start and just after half time. Black and Blues problem is that they give away ball possession after gaining territory. Ashwantha Herath and Juranpathy center combination is good but not getting enough points when they play with big teams. Pandula De Silva has been the pillar for the Thomian front row and he will be tested against Stephan Greogory who scored a hat-trick last week.
Joes captain Tariq Salih must be missing his flank buddy Shehan Bopearachi who is another good player. Still this team could have won last week without him but Joes certainly cannot win by a player going to sin-bin. Last week Science scored three tries when a Josephian player was in the naughty chair. So the on-field discipline needs to be sorted out if they want to put a winning performance. Also the nippy runner Shamilka Kurumbalapitiya needs to get the ball often to gain territory.
Score Prediction : Joes win 7+
Schools Rugby Week 6 Roundup by Shanaka Amarasinghe
