The inter-school rugby tournament for A Division schools is turning out to be very interesting. As much as journalists love to witness upsets at matches, spectators hate matches when the outcome is predictable. This is because one has to pay a princely sum to obtain a ticket at matches these days. Apart from that, the global recession has made people survive on a shoestring budget. There are also less expensive modes, compared to rugby, available in terms of entertainment.

A tournament, which found an early favourite in Royal, has now to deal with the advances made by S. Thomas’ College Mount Lavinia which moves to second place in the points table, after beating St. Anthony’s Katugastota, 52-25.

These Thomians have found a formula which has made them famous in rugby once again. Coach Jivan Gunatilake and technical adviser Viraj Prashantha have delivered in the sphere of elevating the team’s rugby skills. Trainer Mohotilal Jayatilake has worked hard in the gymnasium with the boys. If one records on video the final 15 minutes of any match that the lads from Mount Lavinia play in, it’ll make a good advertisement for a commercial on fitness. By getting the players fit, Jayatilake has transformed the Thomians into a bigger, faster and stronger outfit.

Table leaders and the Bradby boys of rugby, Royal College, are enjoying one of their best seasons ever. This team is coached by an expatriate and comprises some brilliant rugby players who have done the school very proud.

Sri Lanka’s rugby set-up is such that the interest for rugby continues after the Bradby when there is fierce competition between teams for the league plum. Royal have to play the second leg of the Bradby Shield, scheduled at the school sports stadium at Reid Avenue on June 13. But the majority of the rugby fraternity anxiously awaits Royal’s fixture against Kingswood, which, according to past predictions, would have decided the winner of the league tournament.

Isipatana made rugby analysts work over time by shoving Kingswood to second place in the points table after that unforgettable match at Bogambara Stadium, last Saturday. Isipatana beat Kingswood 25-19 in a thrilling match which unfortunately was marred by violence after referee Pradeep Fernando blew the final whistle.

The anticipation for an upset in the Royal vs Kingswood match, scheduled for June 20, make rugby fans think about this match even while the focus is for the upcoming second leg of the Bradby Shield encounter. Kingswood are one of the fastest playing teams in the tournament and should be smarting to bounce back from their defeat at the hands of Isipatana. There is also the S. Thomas’ vs Kingswood rugby match to be played at the Bogambara Stadium on June 27. This is not wishful thinking, but Royal also have to play against Isipatana, the match scheduled for the final week of June. This match could be a thriller.

And last but not least, Kingswood have to play Trinity on July 4. This tournament is sure going to experience a climax which is bound to end in a rugby explosion!

Last Thursday, St. Peter’s exposed St. Joseph’s in a match where the latter found it hard to negotiate the pace at which the match was played at. The first half was exciting with the Joes getting a larger share of possession and making good use of the ball they had. They made St. Peter’s fight for each inch they gained, in the first session of play.

The Peterites played their hearts out in the first half and put up a stout defence. The lads from Bambalapitiya scored twice through lock Shenal Dias and winger Dhanushka Ranjan before the Joes found a try scorer in scrum half Romelo Perera. The signs were that the spectators going to witness a fiercely contested second half.

Winger Ranjan proved all signs wrong by going on the rampage. He scored a hat-trick of tries in the second half as the Joes defence crumbled. It was surprising to see the Josephians giving up this game sans a fight, given the fact that it was the rugby big match between these two schools.

Lakith Perera, the other Peterite winger scored two tries to stretch the winning team’s score.