Wesley seeking to clinch maiden knockout title

The high riding Wesley rugby team will be seeking to clinch their maiden inter-schools knockout title when they meet the Trinity Lions in the final of the Milo Under 20 inter-schools President’s Trophy knockout rugby tournament tomorrow which is scheduled to be kicked off at 4.30 p.m.

The two teams were involved in a pulsating semi final clash with Wesley who played the first semi final hitting the daylights out of league champions Dharmaraja with a comfortable 22-13 win and Trinity getting the better of St Peter’s in a closely contested second semi final by three points.

Wesley spearheaded by their star scrum half Rahul de Silva will be looking forward to at least be third time lucky in their third attempt having failed in two earlier endeavours with the first in 2002 where they lost to Royal and two years later (2004) when they lost to traditional rivals Kingswood.

Trinity led by their playmaker Halique Wadood on the other hand will be coming into the game with loads of confidence and will be looking to regain the President’s Trophy which they surrendered to Isipathana last year having won the title in 2011.The two teams possess’ talented players and the cynosure of all eyes will be Trinity’s fly half Tharnda Ratwatte who had a wonderful game in the semi final against St Peter’s where he was responsible in securing half of the 40 points that his team scored.

Trinity have in their ranks players of the calibre of Naresh Perera, Lakwin Gunasekera, Lochana Girihagama, Shehan Perera to name a few along with skipper Halique who are capable of turning the game in their favour.

But the Wesleyites are not going to be easy nuts to crack as they too posses a fine set of forwards and will be banking on skipper Rahul who has had a wonderful season this year to lead from the front along with Gavin Si- ergertsz, Ishaq Jurampathy, Namal Rajakaruna, Randeera de Silva, Lahiru Madusanka, Sajith Ariyawansa in quest their maiden knockout title.

The league encounter between the two sides played two months ago saw the Wesleyites throwing away their chances of a victory at the last stages of the game after having been in the lead for most part of the game as they succumbed to a close 1922 defeat.As mentioned this time around the Wesleyites are not going to be easy nuts for the Trinity Lions to crack as they will be coming with their heads high having defeated the league champs of 2013.

However with the two teams evenly balanced Trinity will be seeking to put up a better performance and on the other hand this being a crunch game the Wesleyites too cannot afford to take the Lions lightly. The teams: Trinity - Halique Wadood (Capt), Tharinda Ratwatte, Naresh Perera, Lakvin Gunasekera, Nethmal Sakalasooriya, Anurdha Karunathilleka, Isuru Rangala, Ashan Perera, Shahim Singalaxana, Lochana Girihagama, Saranga Goonethilleka, Rukshan Sasmin, Sanka Ethulgama, Kenneth Gamage, Nathan Chung, Umesh Samarasekera, Rahul Karunatilleka, Sajith Thalgahagoda, Aaquif Sarooj, Nipun Alahakoon, Dushan Perera, Dinuk Ratwatte, Dureka Aluvihare, Shehan Perera, Sanchana Sheik, Nishan Handunge. Neil Foote (Director Coaching), Nilufer Ibrahim (Coach). Wesley – Rahul de Silva (Capt), Gavin Siegertsz, Randeera de Silva, Ishaaq Jurangpathy, Namal Rajakaruna, Usman Thaha, Sajith Ariyawansa, Lahiru Madusanka, Shezaad Hamidon, Vishan Ranasinghe, Ishara Madushan, Dilan Madushanka, Auvinde Madampe, Sahan Mendis, Thisara Hashan, Buddhi de Zoysa, Zayan Sabar, Sanoj Fernando, Hiranya Liyanagoda, Manoj Abeyratne, Anuja Ishara, Joel Randika Perera, Kavindu Sankalpa, Anotjithan Thavaraja, Sithum Peiris, Tharindu Asele, Yohan Seth, Joel Thilakaratne, Pasindu Fernando, Rashdan Irshad, Muzni Doray.

Henry Terrence (Head coach), Amal Pathirana (Asst. coach/trainer), Nimal Bandara (MIC).