Two of the best schools rugby teams this season Royal College and Wesley College will play each other in what shapes up to being a absorbing Milo President’s Trophy Knock Out Final at Reid Avenue (Royal rugby grounds) this evening.

This match will also bring the curtain down on the 2002 Inter Schools rugby season.

The record books says Royal have had the better fortunes as far as the history of the schools rugby knock out tournament is concerned ahead of their rivals from Campbell Park.

Royal have clinched the knock out title once way back in 1988 under the leadership of Lasitha ‘Bonsa’Gunarathne when it was then known as the Premadasa Trophy.

However since that heady success 14 years ago the lads from Reid Avenue are still desperately vying to lay their hands on the Knock Out trophy, a task which they feel they will achieve today in their own back-yard.

But in contrast Wesley College have never ever been to the Schools knock out final in the tournament’s 17 year history.

They have however managed to reach the semis in 1997 and 1998 under the captaincy of Anupama Wadugodapitiya and Asanka Gammanpila respectively and this year under Lahiru Botheju they have managed to go a step further and reach the final.

This evening they will do their best to topple the home team and etch their names into the record books in a do-or-die game expected to be witnessed by a capacity crowd.

Going through the season’s performance Royal will start as hot favourites to triumph today but Wesley will be only too pleased to go in as underdogs and be concerned at the finish.

Royal’s forte has been their scintillating back-play from an experienced set of three quarters.

Apart from the halves comination of skipper Zulky Hamid and S Badurdeen who have been intstumental in winning quality possession Indika De Silva, dynamic Rajith Jayasundere, Bilal Yusuf, Lakshman Dissanayake and Chamath Dhanawansa have all been in the thick of things and will be hoping to deliver the goods when it matters most.

Their forwards also have been faring well and a good display from the Royal ‘eight’ complimented by their fluent backline should make it tough for Wesley.

Wesley on the other hand have based their attack on their power-packed set of forwards comprising of the likes of Steve Perera, Tyronne Harrison, Kasun De Silva, Heshan Dissanayake and skipper Lahiru Botheju to crush the Royalists on their way to the final.

Wesley’s backs Naushki Fareez, Ziard Thaheer, Saliman Buckman and Zakeer Badurdeen will also have to combine effectively with their ‘eight’ if the lads from Campbell Park are to prevail over the rampaging unbeaten Royal College ‘fifteen’.

Meanwhile it is also ferevently hoped from a spectators points of view the the officials of the tournament organisers (SLSRFA) will have more security officers at the ground in a bid to prevent the unruly elements from causing any fracas at the end of the game.

A brawl which took place between the players of Wesley and St.Peter’s and followed by a even bigger free for all among the supporters of the two teams at the end of the quater finals last Monday is proof to showcase the security arrangements put in place by the SLSRFA for this tournament.

Teams

Royal

Shamil Mohammed, Mafaz Ismail, Venura Perera, Nanda Abeysekera, Rakeem Barry, Kushan Athukorale, Channa De Silva, Dushanth Lewke, Zulky Hamid (Capt) and S Badurdeen, Indika De Silva, Rajith Jayasundere, Bilal Yusuf, Lakshman Dissanayake and Chamath Dhanawansa.

Wesley

Steve Perera, R M Manahara, Chithrajith Weligamage, Mohamed Shaker, Lahiru Botheju (Capt), Kasun De Silva, Heshan Dissanayake, Tyronne Harrison, Rukshan Omar and Prasad Perera, Naushki Fareez, Ziard Thaheer, Nuwan Samith, Saliman Buckman and Zakerr Badurdeen. [ J K ]

Referee- Orville Fernando

The past winners of the Schools Knock Out Tournament.

1985 - Isipatana 1991 - STC 1997 - Isipatana

1986 - Isipatana 1992 - Isipatana 1998 - Thurstan

1987 - Trinity 1993 - Trinity 1999 - Isipatana

1988 - Royal 1994 - STC 2000 - Kingswood

1989 - STC 1995 - St.Peter’s 2001 - Isipatana

1990 - STC 1996 - Isipatana