Defending champions Royal College, Colombo will face a fierce challenge from a strong Josephian outfit when they clash on June 29 (Saturday) at the Royal sports complex in the Singer League Division one championship decider.
The lads from Reid Avenue have the tough task of overcoming the Josephians by scoring four tries if they are to retain the league title for the third successive year. The Joes will be hell-bent on beating the Royalists and end the League tournament on a winning note having suffered two successive defeats at the hands of Wesley (13-15) and St. Peter’s (21-23) in their last two outings.
The Joes boast of a strong back division with a fine halves combination in Rehan Gunawardena and Santhush Algama while centre Imesh Dissanayake and the two speedy wingers Tharindu Maduranga and Teran Karunanayake will test the Royal defence to the hilt with their daring runs.
The forte of Royal have been their power-packed forwards with No 8 Samadhi Induwara being a source of inspiration to his team mates with his terrific loose play ably supported by Dilshan Jayah Radesh Wijeratne, Rajindu Jayasuriya, Achintha Radeeshan and the omni present flanker Kevin Samarasekera. The return of lanky Fadil Adahen (who was sidelined due an injury last week) should strengthen them for tomorrow’s match.
The Josephians also have seasonsed campaigners in their pack of the calibre of Skipper Tharindu de Alwis Cheika Jayawardene, Nehan Perera Shevon Gregory Shehan Kelaniyagoda and Tharindu Dilshan who are capable of matching up to the famed Royal ‘eight’. The lads from Reid Avenue will hope that their halvas combination of Nipuna Yasojana and Kalindu Nandila will hit it off tomorrow as they too have penetrative runners in their back division in skipper Thulaib Hassan, Lehan Gunaratne, Yasas Rashmika and an attacking full back Dulan Gunawardene.
Royal have dominated the Singer League Tournament during the last 10 years winning it five times in 2009 (Naren Dhason), 2011 (Shehan Pathirana), 2015 (Banuka Gamage), 2017 (Ovin Askey) and 2018 (Sabith Feroze), while Isipathana have bagged the title on three occasions 2012 (Kumaresh Dharmadasa), 2014 (Shenal Deelaka, 2016 (Kushan Indunil), St. Peter’s 2010 (Keith Gurusinghe) and Dharmaraja 2013 (Rochana Hettiarachchi) are the other two schools which have clinched the league title in the last decade.
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