Three teams eye Rugby League last Super Round spot
Colombo Times
CHRIS DHAMBARAGE
COLOMBO – D. S. Senanayake College, St. Anthony’s College and S. Thomas’ College have set up a three-cornered tussle for the last Super Round spot of the Inter-Schools Under-19 Division One League Rugby Tournament.
All three teams are in with a realistic chance of making it to the final phase from Group 1A of this 14-team tournament, conducted by the Sri Lanka Schools Rugby Football Association.
However, D. S. Senanayake are having a slight edge over their nearest rivals, and they are currently placed second in the points table with 22 points followed by St. Anthony’s (18) and S. Thomas’ (17) respectively.
D. S. Senanayake, the newcomers to the ‘A’ Division this season, have looked the most promising team throughout this tournament and now they are just one step away from reaching another significant milestone in the history of their rugby.
Last week, they brought down the favourites S. Thomas’ College 13-10 with a terrific performance and went on to register their fourth victory of the tournament from five matches.
Now they only need to beat St. Joseph’s College in their last first-round fixture on Saturday to seal their Super Round spot and join the table leaders and the defending champions Isipathana College in the final round of this tournament.
Meanwhile, the other two top contenders St. Anthony’s and S. Thomas’ are set for a blockbuster clash as they keep on searching for that elusive Super Round spot in their last outing of the first-round segment.
The Antonians will be praying that D. S. Senanayake would lose their game to St. Joseph’s and thereafter, they need to beat the Thomians with a bonus point to keep their hopes alive.
On the other hand, S. Thomas’ will qualify for the Super Round segment if they beat St. Anthony’s with a bonus point and provided, they stay ahead on the points for and points against aggregate.
Now, the Antonians are slightly ahead with a difference of three points on the aggregate of points for and points against, and the stage is set for a thrilling finish for this decisive final week fixture.
The Antonians, of course, will be coming out on the back of a morale boosting 26-10 victory against their hometown rivals Kingswood College and will also have the home advantage over their opponents from Mount Lavinia.
In contrast, the Thomians are hoping for a massive turn around of events following a shock 10-13 defeat at the hands of D. S. Senanayake last week at Havelock Park.
Meanwhile, St. Peter’s College and Royal College have already qualified to participate in the Super Round segment from Group 2A of the tournament.
The Peterites, of course, have made it to the final round in style with a match in hand and now they could complete their first-round fixture on a winning note when they take on Vidyartha College on Saturday at Bambalapitiya.
Last week, they overcame Science College 29-0 on their home grounds and now look set to record their sixth successive victory of the tournament.
Meanwhile, Royal College, despite their setback against the traditional rivals Trinity last week, secured second place in Group 2A and also obtained two valuable losing bonus points to finish with a tally of 26 points.
