Dialog Schools Knockout Rugby Trinity, Antonian clash pick of matches

By M. Shamil Amit

The second day of the Dialog Schools Knockout Rugby tournament will see four pre-quarter-final matches down for decision with the pick of the matches being the clash between hometown rivals Trinity and St. Anthony’s scheduled to be played under floodlights from 6.30 p.m. at Longden Place.

The other three matches for the day are S. Thomas’ vs Science at Longden Place beginning at 3.30 p.m, Zahira vs Vidyartha at Havelock Park and Isipathana vs Sri Sumangala, Kandy at Royal Sports Complex at 4.15 p.m.

Trinity led by centre Usman Sarfaraz are favoured to come out on top against St. Anthony’s led by full back Omitha Dissanayake. But the Antonians cannot be underestimated as they will no doubt come into the game with the aim of turning tables against the fancied Trinitians who cannot take things lightly. 

The cynosure of all eyes will be the Trinity’s Bradby Shield hero Shan Althaf who is the co-vice-captain with Nisith Kumarasinghe and this no doubt will be a good preparation for the two teams to face the Dialog league tournament which is scheduled to start in June.

S. Thomas’ led by scrum half Venuka Wickramasuriya has a slight edge over Science led by second row Dilruwan Perera while the match between Zahira led by centre Luqman Al Hakeem and Vidyartha should be another closely contested affair.

Isipathana led by flanker Thinethra Dodangoda should have an easy passage against lowly rated Sri Sumangala, Kandy led by No. 8 Adithya Ratnayake.

Meanwhile, the pre-quarterfinal matches will conclude with two matches scheduled to be played tomorrow.

Defending champions St. Peter’s meet last year’s wooden spoonist of the league tournament Thurstan at Royal Sports Complex and Royal lock horms with Kingswood at Longden Place with both the matches to kick-off at 4.15 p.m.

St. Peter’s led by winger Vishenka Silva should have little difficulty in brushing off the challenge of Thurstan led by second row Hansa Indramal while Royal led by winger Amika Samarasinghe are favoured to come out on top against Kingswood led by scrum half Thaveesha Ekanayake.