By A Special Sports Correspondent
Isipatana will come up against the formidable Josephians in a Division 1 Segment A Group 1 fixture of the inter-school under 19 league rugby tournament scheduled to be worked off at the CR & FC grounds in Longden Place today (June 30).
The Joes can be termed formidable because they have a good team on paper. They also have a fabulous player in skipper Naveen Marasinghe who is always a threat to any opposing team that takes on the Josephians on any given day. But St.Joseph’s need to get one thing into their heads and that is that they are still searching for that first big win this season. When one sees the roles played by other skippers like Naveen Kanishka (Isipatana) and Sahan Keerthisiri (St.Anthony’s) Marasinghe is yet to marshal his ‘troops’ and produce that morale-boosting win. It has to be a giant-killing performance that gives a team that recognition. Slaying Isipatana today can be what they just need, to be in contention for a super-round slot; that path would open up only if other top teams suffer unexpected defeats.
Some of the key players who can contribute significantly for St.Joseph’s today are skipper Marasinghe, J.Athukorala, Vihanga
Randeepa, Sachinthana Waidyanatha, Ruchitha Rodrigo and Dahan Dias.Joes have already lost to St.Anthony’s and just scraped through to a win against Wesley last week; winning off a solitary penalty.
Isipatana on the other hand have done pretty well and have two handsome wins under their belt; the first coming against Kingwood (32-8) and last week they beat S. Thomas’ in a keenly contested game which they won 29-20. The good thing about Isipatana is that they have taken the least time to settle down when compared with the other teams contesting for the league title this season. Skipper Kanishka has led from the front and played an inspiring role as the fly-half of the team. He is the man to watch when he explodes into action with his trailblazing runs, side stepping and kicks to touch. Also contributing
heavily this season is winger and place kicker Rinesh Silva. Silva scored a peach of a try against S. Thomas’ last week; breaching the Thomian defence with a jinxing run and slotting vital conversions and a penalty. There is also number eight Nisaja Jayaweera, linkman Shehanda de Costa, centres Ranaweera and Shahid Zumri and stepper Randimal. Full back Kalindu Silva too has been a strength to the side.
On Saturday (July 1) Royal host Vidyartha in Colombo in a key Division 1 Segment A Group 2 fixture. Royal were unstoppable against Science College last week running in seven tries, but Vidyartha is a different team which play well in patches and has the potential to provide some shocks. Vidyartha can look very aggressive when they are pressed against the wall. They have a back line that fires when set in motion and the man to watch is Deshan Balasuriya who scored twice last week against Trinity. Vidyartha produced a win in their first outing when they beat Science 26-19, but they lost Trinity 20-10.
Also on Saturday S. Thomas’ host Kingswood at Mount Lavinia while Zahira host Science at Maradana. Dharmaraja host St. Peter’s at Bogambara. On Sunday Wesley take on D.S Senanayake at Royal Sports Complex.
St.Joseph’s College rugby
pool: N. Rodrigo, C. Kavindya, J. Athukorala, S. Liyanage, J. Marasinghe, S. Waidyanatha, V. Fernando, N. Marasinghe, V. Randeepa, B. Jayasekara, B. Fernando, R. Rodrigo, I. White, S. Cooray, S. Marc, Dias, D. Fernando, N. Guneratne, S. Eran, U. Robinson.
Isipatana College rugby pool:
S. Senarathne, Kenula Mhisara, S.
Arawagoda, Shakib Zumri , N. Thahir, C. Iroshan, G. Maneth, Nisaja
Jayaweera, Shehandu de Costa, Naveen Kanishka, Shahid Zumri, T.
Ranawera, Rinesh Silva, H. Randimal, Kalindu Silva, D. Hansidu, L.
Mapitigama, Chamindu Chirath, M. Devan, A. Azeez, M. Ransaja.