Can the Lions devour the Baseline lads

The curtains of the Under 20 inter- school rugby season for the year 2013 will come down today with the final of the Milo President’s trophy between Wesley and Trinity scheduled to be worked from 4.30 p.m. onwards at the Royal Sports Complex ground in Reid Avenue.

Of course with this going to be the final showdown the supporters of both sides could witness a blockbuster with Wesley coming into the game with the aim of seeking revenge for their defeat to Trinity when the two sides met in the league encounter earlier.

But even then the Trinitians cannot be satisfied with that win as they were able to achieve it with the greatest difficulty in the dying stages of the match to win by a slender three points. Also this year they have proved that they tend to relax and succumb while taking on minnows.

Wesley led by scrum half Rahul de Silva has been an improving side this season which was visible in the early part of the league season and then in the President’s Trophy knockout tournament.

Trinity led by full back Halique Wadood too have had their ups and downs in both version of the tournaments and they were only tested on one occasion in the run up to booking a berth to the final.

Looking back to at the performances of the two teams in the knockout stages the Wesleyites played their quota of two matches of quarter and semi final encounters. In the quarter final match they got the better of Science with a score of 20-17 while the semi final game was their best of the season where they coasted to a convincing 2213 win over 2013 league champions Dharmaraja.

In contrast Trinity was given a walk over by DSS in the quarter final before being taken to the wire by St Peter’s in the semi final which they came back after being led 33-37 to come out winners by three points 40-17.

So when judging by the semi final wins achieved by the two teams the match is no doubt going to be a blockbuster and with both the sides oozing with talented players, predicting the outcome of the final is not going to be that easy.

However this will be the third time that the Wesleyites are playing in the final with the first being in 2002 when the side was led by Lahiru Boteju where they lost to Royal 20-16 and the other was in 2004 when they were soundly beaten 33-13 by traditional rivals Kingswood.

For Trinity this will be their third successive final with the first in 2011 where they beat Isipathana but the next year (2012) they lost to the same opponents. Looking at that angle it will be interesting to note that Wesley will be seeking their first knockout title while Trinity will be aiming to regain the trophy they lost last year.

Trinity will be expecting their fly half Tharindra Ratwatte who was instrumental in their win against St Peter’s in the semi final to deliver the goods. He will be the player that the Wesleyites will have to take note of while skipper Halique, Lakwin Gunasekera, Naresh Perera, Lochana Girihagama, Shehan Perera and Anuradha Karunatilleke are the others that they will be pinning their hopes.

Likewise the Wesleyites to posses man to man players in the caliber of Gavin Siergertsz, Namal Rajakaruna, Ishaq Jurangpathy, Randeera de Silva, Lahiru Madusanka, Sajith Ariyawansa and their reliable kicker and playmaker skipper Rahul who no doubt are going to be the front runners in this crucial encounter.

So it’s left to be seen who would achieve their target whether the Trinitians who are looking to regain the title or the Wesleyites who are seeking to win the knockout title for the first time. Your guess is good as mine, keep your fingers crossed.The teams:

Trinity: Halique Wadood (Capt), Tharinda Ratwatte, Naresh Perera, Lakvin Gunasekera, Nethmal Sakalasooriya, Anuradha 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), 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).

Nilufer