Chris DHAMBARAGE
Kingswood College, Kandy drew first blood in the new inter-school rugby season when they clinched the Cup championship with a close 26 points to 17 victory over their home town rivals Trinity College in the all island under 20 seven a side tournament concluded at the Royal College Sports Complex in Reid Avenue yesterday.
This tournament which was the curtain raiser for the 2009 inter-school rugby season was conducted by the Sri Lanka Schools Rugby Football Association (SLSRFA) and sponsored by Y FM.
Kingswood College were trailing 7-12 at half time but came back into the game strongly during the second half and scored two last minute tries to turn the final in their favour. They were facing defeat at one stage with the Trinitians making an excellent start that put them in font after the first ten minutes of the final.
However in a dramatic turn of events Kingswood College bounced back with an improved performance to cross their opponent’s goal line on three occasions with two of those tries coming during the last couple of minutes.
Kingswood College also had the credit of defeating the pre-tournament favourites Isipatana College by 24 points to 10 in a closely contested semifinal encounter.
The winners who led 12-5 at half time collected their points from two goals and two tries against their opponent’s two tries. Defending Champions Isipatana College had earlier showed great promise having defeated the giant killers St. Joseph’s College by 25 points to 14 after leading 15-14 at half time.
They launched their campaign in style with two rousing victories over Siri Piyaratne MV (38 nil) and St. John’s College Nugegoda (49 nil). In contrast Trinity College cruised to a convincing 21 points to 12 points victory over Prince of Wales College in the other semifinal fixture. The winners who led 12 nil at half time collected their points from three superb goals while conceding a goal and a try to their opponents.
The Cambrians made it to the last eight following an easy victory over C. W. W. Kannangara MMV having earlier topped their Group F in which they recorded two morale boosting victories against Science College and Lalith Athulathmudali MV respectively.
C. W. W. Kannangara MMV of course had the credit of creating a major upset where they knocked out the more fancied Thurstan College team by 12 points to 7 in an exciting contest. They followed up this with another good victory over Asoka MV that put them on top of Group E and a place in the Cup championship quarterfinals. The Trinitians had started the tournament in the most spectacular manner where they notched up the highest score of the tournament while outplaying Carey College by 54 points to nil in a preliminary round fixture.
Trinity College followed up this massive score with another smashing 31 points to 7 win over Maliyadeva to head Group G with maximum points. They went on to reach the last eight with a convincing victory over the last year’s runners up Ananda College.
Kingswood College also made a clean sweep in Group D and did not concede a try to their opponents where they trounced S. Thomas’ College, Bandarawela by 52 points to nil and Lumbini MV by 40 points to nil before overcoming Dharmaraja College in the quarterfinals. Meanwhile Nalanda College annexed the Plate championship defeating Maliyadeva College Kurunegala by 29 points to 9 in the final and Carey College had the better of St. Aloysius College Galle 19-7 in the Bowl championship final.
Monday, March 23, 2009
Sunday, March 22, 2009
Three-way tussle for Cup title
Trinity, Kingswood and reigning all-island schools Sevens champs Isipathana are well poised to grab the title this year but only one team will have the privilege to walk away winners when the tournament resumes today at 8.30am at the Royal College Sports Complex in Reid Avenue. Trinity, Kingswood and Isipathana went through their first round matches recording easy wins but will have a tough task when the tournament reaches the knockout stage today.
Yesterday Trinity recorded easy wins against Carey by 54-nil which was the highest winning margin and beat Maliyadeva by 31-7 to qualify for the fourth Cup quarterfinal. They will confront Ananda who beat St. Sebastian’s Kandana narrowly by 12-7 and St. Sylvester’s by a comfortable 24-nil margin.
Kingswood recorded two first round wins beating St. Thomas’ Bandarawela 52-nil and Lumbini 40-nil. They will lock horns with hometown rivals Dharmaraja in the second Cup quarters.
Isipathana with two easy wins against Siri Piyaratana (38-nil) and St. John’s Nugegoda (49-nil) are well set to retain their title. However they will face a tough opponent in St. Joseph’s in the first Cup quarterfinal. The other two teams to qualify for the Cup quarters are Prince of Wales’ and CWW Kannangara MV who created a major upset in the tournament by beating Thurstan by 12-7 after a close tussle.
Today’s match line-up is scheduled as follows: The winners will advance to the next level. Bowl Quarterfinals: 1. Siri Piyaratana vs Dharmapala, 2. St. Aloysius vs St. Thomas’ Bandarawela, 3. Asoka vs Lalith Athulathmudali MV, 4. Carey vs St. Sebastian’s Kandana. Plate Quarterfinals: 1. St. John’s vs Royal Panadura, 2. Nalanda vs Lumbini, 3. Thurstan vs Science, 4. Maliyadeva vs St. Sylvester’s. Cup Qurterfinals: Isipathana vs St. Josephs, 2. Kingswood vs Dharmaraja, 3. CWW vs Prince of Wales’, 4. Trinity vs Ananda
Yesterdays results: St. John’s bt Siri Piyaratana 10-0, Royal Panadura bt Dharmapala 12-5, Nalanda bt St. Aloysius 42-0, Lumbini bt St. Thomas’ Bandarawela 26-0, CWW bt Asoka 38-0, Science bt Lalith Athulathmudali MV 31-0, Maliyadeva bt Carey 26-7, St. Sylvester’s bt St. Sebastian’s Kandana 17-14, Isipathana bt Siri Piyarathana 38-0, St. John’s bt Dharmapala 22-5, Dharmaraja bt St. Aloysius 24-0, Kingswood bt St. Thomas’ Bandarawela 52-0, Thurstan bt Asoka 43-0, Prince of Wales’ bt Lalith Athulathmudali MV 33-14, Trinity bt Maliyadeva 31-7, Ananda bt St. Sebastian’s Kandana 12-7, Isipathana bt St.Jones 49-0, St. Joseph’s bt Royal Panadura 43-7, Dharmaraja bt Nalanda 17-0, Kingswood bt Lumbini 40-0, CWW bt Thurstan 12-7, Prince of Wales bt Science 12-0, Trinity bt Carey 54-0, Ananda beat St. Sylvester’s 24-0.
Isipathana to the fore
The All Island Schools Rugby 7’s which got underway at the Royal Complex grounds in Reid Avenue saw fancied teams winning their games with ease. Twenty six teams around the island divided into eight groups participated in this two day event.
Isipathana who won most of the schools rugby 7’s conducted last season showed that they are a side to be reckoned this year too. They recorded massive wins over weak opponents to remain unbeaten along with Kingswood, St. Joseph’s, Dharmaraja, Prince of Wales, Trinity, Ananda and giant killers CWW Kannangara MMV.
Meanwhile the quarter finalists of the Cup, Plate and Bowl were found. The line up for the Cup category is: Isipathana vs St. Joseph’s, Kingswood vs Dharmaraja, CWW Kannangara MMV vs Prince of Wales and Trinity vs Ananda.
The quarter finals are scheduled to get underway at 8.30 a.m. today with the Bowl category followed by the Plate and finally the Cup. The semi finals are due to be played from 2.00 p.m. and the finals are scheduled to be played from 4.00 p.m. onwards. Bowl QF: 1. Siri Piyaratana vs Dharmapala, 2. St. Aloysius vs St. Thomas’ Bandarawela, 3. Asoka vs Lalitha Atulathmudali MV, 4. Carey vs St. Sebastian’s Kandana.
Plate QF: 1. St. John’s vs Royal Panadura, 2. Nalanda vs Lumbini, 3. Thurstan vs Science, 4. Maliyadewa vs St. Sylvester’s
Cup QF: 1. Isipathana vs St. Joseph’s, 2. Kingswood vs Dharmaraja, 3. CWW vs Prince of Wales’, 4. Trinity vs Ananda.-MSA
Schools Rugby Sevens today and tomorrow
The draw:
Group A : Isipatana, St. John’s and Siri Piyaratne MMV
Group B : St. Joseph’s, Royal Panadura, Dharmapala MV
Group C : Dharmaraja, Nalanda and Hindu College
Group D : Kingswood, Lumbini MV,
S. Thomas’ Bandarawela
Group E : Thurstan, Kannangara MMV, Asoka MV
Group F : Prince of Wales, Science College,
Lalith Athulathmudali MV
Group G : Trinity, Carey, Maliyadeva
Group H : Ananda, St. Sylvester’s, St. Sebastian’s,
Kandana.
************ **
The all island schools under 20 seven a side rugby tournament organised by the Sri Lanka Schools Rugby Football Association and sponsored by Y FM will be worked off today and tomorrow at the Royal College Sports Complex in Reid Avenue.
Isipatana College are the reigning champions having defeated Ananda College 42 nil in last year’s Cup final encounter.
Isipatana College have already bagged the Western Province seven a side tournament while overcoming S. Thomas’ College Mount Lavinia 31 nil in the final.
Isipatana clinch Western Province RFA Sevens trophy
Isipatana college, Colombo, celebrating 50 years of rugby, opened the season with a bang, defeating S. Thomas’ College Mt. Lavinia, by 31 points (3 goals, 2 tries) to nil, at St. Peter’s College Grounds on March 8 in front of a appreciative crowd.
During the course of the tournament, no team was able to cross the Isipatana line.
At lemons the score was Isipatana 14 and S. Thomas’ nil.
After the turn around three more tries were planted by Isipatana, who recorded a resounding 31-0 win.
The try scorers were, Shanaka, Vishvanath, Dilshan, Ashan Gallage and Devendra, one each.
During the Saucer semi final between Zahira and Lumbini College, a brawl took place between the players and the spectators just after Lumbini had defeated Zahira.
Four Lumbini players were injured and were taken to hospital for treatment.
The Officials of the WPRFA declared Lumbini and St. Sebastian’s College (Kandana) as Joint Champs in the Saucer.
More than 300 participants from 24 schools took part in this Inter Schools Rugby Sevens, conducted by the Western Province Rugby Football Association (WPRFA).
The chief guest was N. J. Mudannayaka, who has served the game of rugby for 25 years, while J. G. Amarajeewa (President, WPRFA/Principal, Lumbini College), Dr. K. A. D. Punniyadasa (President, Sri Lanka Schools RFA), Prasantha Ranaweera (Treasurer, WPRFA) and Susantha Mendis (Secretary, WPRFA) also graced the occasion.
Results:
Cup - Isipatana beat S. Thomas’ College, Mount Lavinia by 31 points to nil.
Plate - Ananda College beat Wesley College by 19 points to 5.
Bowl - St. Joseph’s College beat Mahanama by College 24 points to 10.
Shield - Prince of Wales College, Moratuwa, beat C. W. W. Kannangara, College, by 17 points to 5.
Suacer Joint champs - Lumbini College and St. Sebastian’s, College, Kandana.
The Cup final was officiated by D. Nimal.
Isipathana clinch Western Province RFA Sevens Trophy -
Last year's Sevens champions Isipathana opened the season with a scintillating performance to beat the formidable S. Thomas College, Mt Lavinia by 31 points (3 goals, 2 tries) to nil in the final of the Western Province RFA Sevens Tournament which was played at St' Peter's College Grounds on 7th and 8th March.
The Pathana lads played a superb game excelling in all departments who beat all the schools they confronted without conceding any points to the opponents. The Thomians in the final played with some hard tackling with weight and height advantage came to Pathana 25 metres on several occasions, but the Isipathana players were quick enough to defend and tackle them which prevented Thomians going for tries. Before lemons the score was 14 in favour of Pathana and Thomians nil.
After the turn around three more tries were planted by Pathana, who won with a resounding 31 points to nil. The try scorers were: Shanaka, Vishvanath, Dilshan, Ashan Gallage and Devendra, one try each.
During the 'Saucer' Semi finals between Zahira and Lumbini College a brawl took place between the players and the spectators just after Lumbini had won against Zahira, where four of the Lumbini players were injured and taken to hospital for treatment. The officials of the WPRFA declared Lumbini and St. Sebastian's College, Kandana as Joint Champs in 'Saucer'. More than 300 participants from 24 schools took part in this Inter School Rugby Sevens, conducted by the Western Province Rugby Football Association (WPRFA).
The chief guest was N. J. Mudannayake, a great rugby official was the chief guest.
Results: Cup - Isipathana beat St. Thomas College 31 points to nil, PLATE - Ananda College beat Wesley College 19 points to 5. Bowl - St' Joseph's College beat Mahanama College 24 points to 10. Shield - Prince of Wales beat C. W. W. Kannangara MV 17 points to 5. Saucer - Joint Champs with Lumbini College and St' Sebastian's.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
