Royal concede Dharmaraja a passage to the semi-finals
The Milo Schools Under -20 Knockout Rugby Championship 2017 kicked off last weekend at the Sugathadasa Stadium in Colombo. In the main category played among Division I ‘A’ schools Singer Schools League Tournament champions Royal College conceded Dhar maraja College a passage to the semifinals after deciding to withdraw from the competition even before it began. The remaining three quarterfinals were played as scheduled.
In the first quarter- final played on Friday, June 9, St. Joseph’s College defeated Wesley College by 43- 29 to become one of the top contenders to win the President’s Trophy. St. Peter’s College handed Trinity College a thumping defeat when they bounced back to win the second quarter-final by 38-24 on Saturday, June 10. The third and final quarterfinal was an evenly contested game with St. Anthony’s College taking the lead from the start and maintaining it right up to the end before defending President’s Trophy champs Isipathana posted a spectacular try during extra time to win 29- 28. The results eventually put Dharmaraja and St. Joseph’s in the first semi-final, which was played yesterday while Isipathana is scheduled to meet St. Peter’s in the second qualifier today.
In the Premier Trophy Ananda, Thurstan, St. Benedict’s and Maliyadeva Colleges reached the semifinal stage. Even in this segment three quarterfinals were played and the other was a walkover. In the first quarter- final Ananda beat traditional rivals Nalanda by 55- 21 while in the third qualifier St. Benedict’s pipped out Richmond by 20- 19. The fourth qualifier was won by Maliyadeva who thrashed St. Aloysius Galle by 54-0. Thurstan received a walkover from St. Sylvester’s Kandy. In the semi- finals Ananda met Thustran yesterday while St. Benedict’s will take on Maliyadeva today.
The Chairman’s Trophy is now down to four teams -- St. Anne’s Kurunegala, Moratu Vidya l aya, Thalduwa Buddhist School and Carey College. Thalduwa BS defeated Nugawela Central by 35- 19 while St. Anne’s overcame Vidyaloka Galle. Moratu Vidya l aya and Carey received walkovers from Royal Panadura and Rahula Kandy respectively. St. Anne’s took on Moratu Vidyalaya in the first semifinal yesterday while Thalduwa BS will meet Carey in the second game today.
A total of 24 teams contested
under three segments with eight teams in each cat e gory - - the President’s, Premier and Chairman’s trophies. After the semi-finals which will be played this weekend, the finals of the Premier and Chairman’s trophies will be played next Friday at the Sugathadasa Stadium while the President’s Trophy final will be played next Saturday at the Racecourse ground after an exhibition game between two teams formed by former captains of the Knock- out Championship winning teams of the past 25 years.