The two unbeaten teams meet in a fitting showdown as St. Peter’s take on under-dogs and hosts Isipathana College at Havelock Park as the Dialog Schools’ Rugby League arrives to its climax.
In fitting fashion, the defending Champions, St. Peter’s College is set to take on Isipathana College — a school with an illustrious history in the Schools’ Rugby arena — as the two schools go head to head for the Dialog Schools’ Rugby League 2024!
St. Peter’s will have the opportunity to draw level with their rivals Isipathana on 16 League Championships in the history as the two lock horns.
St. Peter’s College
St. Peter’s have been simply unstoppable throughout the League as their team has lived up to billing, coming up good when the chips were down.
St. Peter’s started off with a with a mammoth win over Thurstan College, and have not really been pushed to the limit by any team during the first round of the League.
Trinity College came to the brink, however, St. Peter’s held firm and then punished the Trinity College outfit in the dying embers to secure their 8th win of the league, setting up the final day showdown with Isipathana.
Players to Watch out for:
The Peterite three-quarter line is stacked with talent!
Vishenka Silva, Yumith Shihara, and Pasindu Bandara are the sensations, pulling strings and running circles around their opponents!
In their forwards, Ranithu Rithmal and skipper Dulaj Nawodya are two players to have a close eye on as the favourites, St. Peter’s aim to defend their title.
Isipathana College
Isipathana College have been simply getting the job done, week-in week-out, they turn out and grind out the wins which keep them in the reckoning for the Dialog Schools’ Rugby League title.
Isipathana started off with 3 good wins, however, they were tested in a few narrow victories, but just like the lads from Isipathana do, they hung in there and made it count, getting the ‘W’ in all their first round games.
The Super Round game was comical, some would say Isipathana were handed the game on a platter after the final whistle by the TMO, others would say the Royalist had a brain freeze, do we turn a blind eye to simulation and diving? Plenty if questions left to answer, however, Zumri, held his nerve to slot of the clutch kick, to take the Green Machine in to the final week with the Dialog Schools’ Rugby League on the line!
Players to Watch out for:
Isipathana in Isipathana fashion, are a force to be reckon with!
When reduced a player in games, time and time again, the 14-men on the field, always puts and extra effort giving 110% to make up for their numerical disadvantage. In similar fashion, the big match players stand up when they are challenged.
Shaahid Zumri is the first name to pop up, but he will not be able to work his magic, without front-foot ball from their forwards.
Skipper Nisaja Jayaweera from No.8 and Kalindu Silva from No.9 will need to step up and show the Peterites what they are made of!
Fullback Abdullah Faizer and make-shift five-eighth, Avishka Hiran are another couple of players to have an eye on!
Scenarios to WIN:
Peters require a win and a win will get the job done, however, they can manage to sneak through even with a loss, as long as they manage to gain 2 bonus points (try scoring and losing bonus points) and lose with a 7+ points margin (not giving away a bonus point to Isipathana)
Isipathana need to win without conceding any bonus points, but even if they do so by conceding the bonus points or not, they still have a chance, given the Head-to-Head scenario.
Prediction:
Isipathana come in as under dogs, and as good racers do, they have timed their run to near perfection, and it could be made perfect this weekend, but in their way, stands St. Peter’s! the Favourites, and holders, I think have a slight edge over the Green Machine.
SPC to win by 5 points or more….
