Dialog Schools Rugby League 2024 Blockbuster at Park to decide fate of League

By Shamseer Jaleel

The Dialog Schools Rugby League 2024 reaches its last week when the defending and unbeaten lads from Bambalapitiya, St. Peter’s College, lock horns with unbeaten Isipathana College at Havelock Park today.

Kick-off is scheduled at 4 p.m.

Both the St. Peter’s and Isipathana outfits know that they will need to get over this final hurdle and no excuse could be given afterwards. It’s a tough call on who will get the better of the other, but the lightning fast Bambalapitiya lads were tested to the maximum by the Trinity outfit last weekend.

Isipathana playmaker Shaahid Zumri, the outstanding fly-half who turned many games in favour of the Greens this season, is the most looked forward to player in their outfit. He improved a lot in his skills with a short stint in New Zealand during the off season. Skipper Nisaja Jayaweera, Kenula Mehisara, and Abdullah Faizar are top class players for the Greens.

Isipathana are coached by former Trinity College and Kandy SC player Saliya Kumara.

Isipathana missed out on having a glorious season last year. They finished third in the League tournament and finished as runner-up in the President’s Trophy knockout tournament. Isipathana improved with each game this season and hit the maturity level at the correct time. The Greens beat Sumangala 50/3, Science 19/9, Dharmaraja 46/8, Trinity 15/13, DS 27/24, St. Anthony’s 38/8, S. Thomas’ 41/27, and Royal 19/18 in the Super Round encounter.

Meanwhile, the Bamba outfit got Pasindu Bandara, Yumath Shihara, Rahul Peter, and Vishenka Silva who can change the game for the Peterites – all four simply being outstanding this season. The Bamba lads are coached by veteran Sanath Martis.

The Peterites were never tested this season till their Trinity encounter, where they were stretched to a maximum at home. They handed off Thurstan 112/0, Kingswood 46/3, Wesley 25/10, Joes 25/10, Zahira 62/8, Royal 31/22, and Vidyartha 42/3. In their Trinity encounter, they managed to get the better of the Kandy outfit 37/28. The Peterites are not only the defending League champions, but also the knockout champions as well.

A packed house with tight security will be in place by host Isipathana at Havelock Park, where all eagle eyes will be closely watching how Referee Gihan Yatawara handles this pressure game. Meanwhile, Trinity College will make their second consecutive trip to steamy Colombo this time to meet Royal College in their last Super League encounter at the Sugathadasa Stadium. For Trinity, this is going to be a hard time in travel, as they will need to be back in Colombo once more on 24 August at the Royal Sports Complex for the First Leg of the Bradby Shield encounter. 

Trinity could be called the unluckiest team with several decisions going against them, which put them so close yet so far from the League in the end. This game could turn out to be between the Royal forwards and Trinity three-quarters, and is likely to feature some players from the bench for exposure and safety for their 24th Bradby game.