Kingswood pullout – Joes fill in the void
Kingswood College, on Friday evening offered a last minute withdrawal but with St. Joseph’s College taking their place the 20th Milo President’s Trophy Schools Under-20 Knockout Rugby Championship go on as planned from tomorrow.
Slight changes in the President’s Trophy segment were made by the Sri Lanka Schools Rugby Football Association (SLSRFA) officials after Kingswood’s eleventh hour pull-out, as the competition sets its tone with traditional rivals Isipathana and Thurstan colleges facing off in the opener at 4.30pm at the Royal Sports Complex.
Impressive St. Joseph’s will appear in the K/Os after Kingswood pulled out in the eleventh hour - File pic
In the main segment, in addition to the curtain raiser clash also played for the Abdul Jabbar Trophy, three high octane matches will be on cards from July 1 to 3. On Tuesday, St. Peter’s will be eagerly looking forward to repeat their second win against Science when both teams meet for the second time after almost three months. On Wednesday Royal will take on St. Joseph’s in another battle which could turn out to be twister. The last time both teams met on April 5, Royal pulled off a thrilling 14-11 after a grueling battle. On Thursday last year’s finalists Wesley and Trinity will take on each other.
St. Joseph’s were drafted into the competition in the eleventh hour after Kingswood officials decided to withdraw from the competition after most of their key players were advised to take at least a month’s recovery period after suffering injuries during the Singer League game against Isipathana. Kingswood master-in-charge Ruben Wijewardene confirmed to the Sunday Times that doctors have advised them to rest their players at least for two more weeks.
“As usual the President’s Trophy is a competition we eagerly look forward to take part annually. But sadly the doctors have advised us not to play the seven injured players at least for two more weeks as they need time to recover after the Isipathana game two weeks ago.
We tried our level best to have them recovered but the doctors’ advice was strictly give them time to recover. We could have replaced them with our Under-18 players but then again the competition standards are so high that there’s a risk of fielding youngsters at this level. We waited till the last minute and after serious consideration we were compelled to pull out officially on Friday evening. We have duly informed the Sri Lanka Schools Rugby Football Association (SLSRFA) officials and they have obliged us,” Wijewardene stated.
Kingswood’s last minute pull out will cause a major change in the President’s Trophy match schedule due to ranking status of the teams. A top SLSRFA official stated that the rank difference between Kingswood and St. Joseph’s will prompt the second and the third quarter-final matches change. Originally Kingswood was slotted to meet Science on July 1 and Royal was set to meet St. Peter’s on July 2. But according to the new changes St. Peter’s will take on Science on July 1 and Royal will meet St. Joseph’s on July 2.
Besides the main competition, eight teams each will compete under the Premier’s Trophy and the Chairman’s Trophy. The teams in contention for the Premier Trophy are CWW Kannangara MV, St. Sylvester’s, Prince of Wales’, Vidyartha, Dharmaraja, Lalith Athulathmudali MV, Mahanama and Ananda colleges. Nalanda, St. Anne’s, Piliyandala Central, Nugawela Central, St. John’s, Maliyadeva, St. Benedict’s and Royal Panadura will compete under the Chairman’s Trophy segment.
The entire match schedule of the President’s Trophy and the Premier’s Trophy and the final of the Chairman’s Trophy will be played at the Royal Sports Complex in Colombo. The SLSRFA, the organisers of the tournament will finalise the venue for the four quarter-final and two semi-final matches of the Chairman’s Trophy between Thurstan ground and CR&FC ground. The tournament is sponsored by Nestle Lanka.
The draw:
President’s Trophy
(At Royal Sports Complex):
June 30: Isipathana vs Thurstan at 4.30pm
July 1: St. Peter’s vs Science at 4.30pm
July 2: Royal vs St. Joseph’s at 4.30pm
July 3: Trinity vs Wesley at 4.30pm
Semi-finals: July 6 and July 7 (Both days at 4.30pm)
Final: July 13 at 4.30pm
Premier’s Trophy
(At Royal Sports Complex)
June 30: CWW Kannangara MV vs St. Sylvester’s at 2.30pm
July 1: Prince of Wales’ vs Vidyartha at 2.30pm
July 2: Dharmarajah vs Lalith Athulathmudali MV at 2.30pm
July 3: Mahanama vs Ananda at 2.30pm
Semi-finals: July 6 and July 7 (Both days at 2.30pm)
Final: July 14 at 4.30pm
Chairman’s Trophy
(At Thurstan or Longdon Place)
July 4: Nalanda vs St. Anne’s at 2.30pm, Piliyandala Central vs Nugawela Central at 4.30pm
July 5: St. John’s vs Maliyadeva at 2.30pm, St. Benedict’s vs Royal Panadura at 4.30pm
Semi-finals: July 10 at 3.00pm and 4.30pm
Final (At Royal Sports Complex): July 14 at 3.00pm