Isipathana firm favourites to win President’s Trophy

By Shamzeer Jaleel

Isipathana College will be the firm favourites to retain the President’s Knock Out rugby tournament when it kicks off the tournament on 10 June with a game against Antonians. 

Isipathana led by Sumudu Rankothge missed out on the Singer League losing out their focus mid-way this season plus their performance was not consistent this season. The school which has produced more than 80 national rugby players plus their supporters expect them to win anytime and anywhere they play. 

Isipathana have always pulled major crowds for their game by dishing out a super brand of open rugby. Harith Bandara and Chamod Fernando could be match winners.

Royal too could give a good fight to Havelock Town lads. They edged out Trinity to win the league this year. They are led by key players of the calibre of Shabith Feroze and Hamza Reza who could break any defence to pieces; both displayed super quality rugby at their first leg of the Bradby up in Kandy last week.

Trinity after having a close call for the Singer League will be all out to show good performance at the Knock Out. Led by Nathan Yee they too have some quality players in their ranks such as Diluksha Dange, Shaveen Ekanayake, the Bandaranayake brothers and Avishka Priyanakara. Their Head Coach, Lote Raikabullah has done a lot of hard work and the results should come their way towards the end of the Knock Out tournament. They will need to be technically correct in their forwards while the weight should give them the advantage.

Joes and Wesley should be a close affair with the Darley Road team showing a yard faster in their approach. Gemunu Chethiya, Sachith Silva and Chathura Seneviratne stood out for them while Wesley continued to be inconsistent this season. Lee brothers and Aponso could be marked men in their quarter final encounters.

Plate winners this year, Katugastota Antonians and Rajans could be a threat in the initial half for both Royal and Isipathana but towards the end both top teams in top division should pull it off without much trouble. Milo who are the sponsors are likely to host all matches at a neutral venue rather than give one team an advantage over the other.

Isipathana are leading the series with 10 wins in the President’s Trophy Knock Out tournament followed by St. Thomas’ (5), St. Peter’s (5), Kingswood (4) Royal and Trinity both three apiece.