Isipatana and Joes favourites in schools’ rugby semis  

by A Special Sports Correspondent  

League rugby champions Isipatana College would be looking to pull off a win over their opponents S. Thomas’ College when the two teams clash in the first semi-final of the President’s Trophy schools’ under 19 Division 1 rugby tournament to be worked off today at Havelock Sports Club grounds.

Isipatana has been the side to watch this season and the only little doubt for them would be whether skipper Dahan Wickramaarachchi would be fit to take the field because of an injury. Otherwise there has been virtually no side which could dictate terms to them this season.

Some of the players who could cause problems to the Thomians today are forwards Tharindu Wewalapandith and Hooker Venura Sangeeth and in the back division there is Navin Kanishka, Malith Mihisara and Rinesh Silva who are capable of punching holes in any defence.

The Thomians led by lock Charya Kurukulasuriya have done well after a shaky start to come this far in the school rugby season. Their revival was witnessed at the traditional game against St. Peter’s where they won displaying a keenness to move ahead in school rugby.

Their quarter final game against Vidyartha was a morale booster with the lads from Mount Lavinia raking in as many as five tries as against three by Vidyartha. Yehan Bulathsinhalage, S. Selvanayagam, Jaden Koch, Reshane Dwight and Mahith Perera are expected to repeat their outstanding performances which were showcased last week in today’s game too.  On Sunday (September 4) St. Joseph’s College will take on Wesley College in the other semi-final of the schools’ knockout tournament.