Dialog Schools Rugby S. Thomas’ and Isipathana battle for top slot

By M. Shamil Amit

The round robin matches of the Dialog Schools Rugby League tournament will come to an end today with six matches down for decision with five to be played today and one tomorrow in Colombo.

The pick of the six matches is no doubt is the clash between two unbeaten teams S. Thomas’ and Isipathana in Group ‘B’. Both will come into this crucial game looking to take the top spot. Kick-off is at Mount Lavinia from 4.00 p.m.

The two teams have recorded four wins out of four and though both the teams have accumulated 24 points each the Thomians are in the top spot due to having a better average and securing bonus points. Apart from being a league match, the two teams will battle for the Rizvy Suhayb Memorial Trophy which has been introduced for the first time.

Rizvy Suhayb spearheaded the Thomians in 1989 to the league title unbeaten.

This time too the two teams are contenders for the league title though Isipathana have tge edge being the reigning President’s Trophy knockout champions.

The Thomians began their campaign with a narrow loss against Kingswood (29/28) but pulled off easy wins against Zahira (43/19), Mahanama (50/35) and Dharmaraja (43/05).

Isipathana on the other hand started with a bang with a comfortable win against Mahanama (34/19) and followed it up with wins against Kingswood (32/22), Dharmaraja (32/19) and Zahira (38/27).

The Thomians will also seek to break the 16-year hoodoo against the Isipathanians with their last win being in 2009 when they beat them in the league encounter and in the President’s Trophy led by Shaveen Kapuwatte.

Wesley vs Ananda 

Wesley, the high riding and  surprise ream of the tournament and who are the leaders of Group ‘A’, will lock horns in their final round robin match against the gritty Ananda side at Havelock Park.

Wesley, the only unbeaten side in this group will come into the game with confidence with the aim of ending  their league campaign with an unbeaten record.

But the Anandians are not going to be easy as they gave the defending champions St. Peter’s some anxious moments and then succeeded to record two wins against Science College and St. Anthony’s.  

St. Peter’s vs D.S. Senanayake 

This match is going to be a crucial one for the two sides as it will decide who will qualify to play in the Cup segment at Bambalapitiya. The two sides come into the game having recorded three wins each and the winning side will move ahead to the Cup segment and the loser will go into the Plate segment.

Of the other three matches scheduled to be played the match between Zahira and Mahanama is also going to be crucial for the two teams as the winner will play in the Plate segment and loser in the Bowl segment making it an interesting tussle.

St. Joseph’s will lock horns with Sri Sumangala at Longden Place while two winless teams Science College and St. Anthony’s will clash at Mt Lavinia.