Western Province Under-20 team stamp their class

By Shamseer Jaleel

The strong Western Province Combined XV, led by Isipathana Number 8 Omalka Gunaratne, outclassed the Central Province Combined XV by 58 points (10 tries, 4 conversions) to 8 points (1 try, 1 penalty), in their rugby encounter played at Havelock Park. 

This annual event was played in order to select the Junior Sri Lanka Under-20 outfit for the Junior Rugby World Cup (JWRT) Asian Division I, to be played in Singapore from 13-19 December.

At the breather the winners led 26-3. The tries for the Colombo outfit were scored by Nikila Gunadeera (2), Niroshan Perera (2), Supun Warnakulasooriya, Bhanuka Gamage, Umesh Madushan, Sajith Roshan, Asitha Punchihewa and Buddima Piyarathna. Four of them were converted by Kevin Dixon, Isuru Kongahawatte and Buddima Piyarathna. 

The game was refereed by Irshad Cader. Sanath Martis has already been selected as the Head Coach for the touring unit. The date for the second leg of the tournament, which was scheduled to take place on 30 October in Nittawela, is still undecided.