Unbeaten Peterites and Isipathana favoured to pull off wins

By Shamseer Jaleel

Both unbeaten St. Peter’s College and Isipathana College are favoured to pull off wins in their encounters against Trinity College and Royal College respectively in the Dialog Super Rugby League encounters today.

The two highly intense games will be worked off in Colombo at the Royal Sports Complex ground and the St. Peter’s College ground in Bambalapitiya, assuring a packed house.

Royal and Isipathana will play for the 32nd Major Milroy Fernando Trophy, with Isipathana leading the tally 15 to Royal’s 12, with four games out of 49 encounters ending in draws overall since 1976, and Royal leading the tally 24 to Green Shirts’ 19 wins, with five of the encounters ending in draws. 

The Maj. Milroy Fernando series commenced in 1986 between the two leading schools in Colombo. This trophy was offered by Col. Dudley Fernando in memory of his son, who died in a landmine explosion in Omanthai in early 1986. He is the brother of Dilroy Fernando and Sanjay Fernando.

Isipathana, having remained unbeaten this season though not at their usual peak, matured into an outstanding outfit to hold the edge though playing away at the Royal Sports Complex. 

Isipathana is led by Nisaja Jayaweera, while Royal is led by Thivain Perera. The Green Shirts are coached by Saliya Kumara while the Royal outfit is coached by Dushantha Lewke.

Referee Ishanka Abeykoon.

Defending league champions St. Peter’s College will go all out, not only to come out with a win but also to retain the league at Bamba, when they confront Trinity for the Maj. Dennis Perera Trophy encounter.

St. Peter’s, having a clean sheet, overcame Royal in one of the difficult encounters when the Reid Avenue Boys came back strong but fell short in the end. 

For Trinity, they lost out to DS and Isipathana – which could have gone their way – which cost them, with some questionable referee decisions going against them. Trinity won all the other five games without any further issues. Though Trinity led the series, the last few years have not gone well for the Kandy school, ending on the losing side.

Their regular skipper, Anuhas Kodituwakku is injured and the outfit will be led by rock hard Thisanga Dissanayake. Meanwhile, the Peterites are led by Dulaj Navodya. 

The Peterites are coached by veteran Sanath Martis while Fazil Marija handles Trinitians this year.

Referee Kelum Sandaruwan.