Isipathana, Royal lock horns for final slot
Defending champions Isipathana College will confront Royal Collegeg in the second semi-final of the Dialog Schools Knockout Rugby Championship, where they will lock horns for the second final slot, at the Sugathadasa Stadium today. The match will kick off at 4:15pm, after being shifted from Havelock Park.
Isipathana will be spearheaded by lock Thinethra Dodangoda as his team will be looking forward to make it to the final for the fourth successive year. In the previous three years they have succeeded to clinch the title twice, in 2022 and last year. Royal will be led by centre Amika Samarasinghe and will be seeking to make it into the final after a lapse of nine years where they have played second fiddle to Isipathana in the year 2014 and 2016. They will surely seek to avenge these defeats.
The two sides has had fluctuated fortunes in the pre-quarter and quarter-final matches with Isipathana though running circles to outclass Sri Sumangala College, Kandy. But they were made to work hard for their win against Wesley College in the quarter-final encounter. Royal, on the other hand, underwent some anxious moments against Kingswood College in the first match, but came back to chalk up an easy win against D.S. Senanayake College in the quarter-final.
The two sides have a player each who is going to be the cynosure of all eyes when the league tournament gets underway next month and they have shown their capabilities in the two matches that they have played. Isipathana have in their ranks No.8 Shaakib Zumri, who turned the game in their favour against Wesley while Royal skipper Samarasinghe had a successful game against D.S. Senanayake bracing four tries, and will be the player to watch.
However with the two sides evenly balanced a blockbuster is on the card as the clash between these two teams have generated interest and their supporters are assured of a closely knit contest. The winning team will meet Trinity College in the final scheduled to be played on May 18 at the same venue.