Science ‘Maroons’ will start this game brimming with confidence as they were able to clear their first hurdle of the tournament last week by overcoming the Old Wesleyites Sports Club 22-7 at the same venue. In contrast, the Field Force SC Team will need to come out with an improved
performance as they suffered a demoralising 10-35 defeat at the hands of Petersons Sports Club in the curtain raiser match of the tournament. In fact, Petersons SC will now have a chance to further extend their dominance of this tournament when they take the OWSC in another encounter at the Thurstan College Grounds on Sunday.
Petersons SC will be hoping that the weather would keep fine for this important clash as they had to play the last 30 minutes of play under heavy rain in their opening game against the Field Force SC. Despite the adverse weather and soggy ground conditions, Petersons SC were able to score five tries in that match, which showed their determination to get on with the game.
On the other hand, OWSC will try to make amends for last week’s setback and are certain to stretch their opponents to the maximum to stay alive in this new look tournament, which has been revived after more than 10 years. No doubt, the OWSC possesses a talented outfit with several former Wesley ruggerites in their ranks, but they will need to brush up a few areas before turning into winning ways.
Meanwhile, Southern Province will come out for the first time when they confront the Uva Province team in a provincial tournament fixture at the Vincent Dias Stadium in Badulla on Saturday.
Uva Province, of course, had a nasty experience in their opening fixture of the tournament last week where they were humiliated 0-119 by the formidable Western Province Team at the same venue.
In contrast, North Western Province are well set to record their second straight victory of the tournament when they take on North Central Province in another match at the Maliyadeva College Grounds in Kurunegala.