Peterites eye rugby double and Isipathana seek revenge in Knock out final

Ashain Madugaspe (St. Peter’s Captain)-Naveen Kanishka (Isipathana Captain) 

St. Peter’s College will be targeting a grand double this season when they take on Isipathana College in the 2023 President’s Trophy Inter-Schools Under-19 Knock-Out Rugby Tournament final at the Sugathadasa Stadium in Colombo on Sunday.

The reigning ‘A’ Division League Tournament champions are in a buoyant mood as they look to conclude another outstanding season and regain the President’s Trophy after a lapse of four years.

The final will also be a repeat of this year’s ‘A’ Division League Tournament decider where St. Peter’s emerged victorious 28-17 in the second match of the Super Round Segment played at Bambalapitiya.

The defending knock-out champions Isipathana, of course, have a tremendous reputation in the President’s Trophy Tournament having emerged champions on 11 previous occasions.

But more than that, the lads from Havelock Park have a score to settle with their opponents and will be keen to avenge that humiliating defeat in the league championship decider last month.

Isipathana were ruthless in the first-round of the league tournament as they smashed all their opponents to record six back-to-back bonus-point victories to head the Group 1A points table with a maximum of 36 points.

Thereafter, Isipathana failed to keep the same momentum in the vital Super Round Segment as they surrendered the league title after going down against Royal College (17-22) and the ultimate champions St. Peter’s (28-17) respectively.

They received a bye into the semi-finals of the knock-out tournament and warmed-up for the final by outplaying the giant-killers Zahira College 39-10 last week at Havelock Park.

In contrast, St. Peter’s had a tough semi-final encounter as they recovered from an early setback to overcome their traditional rivals St. Joseph’s College (16-11) in the semi-final last week at Havelock Park.

In fact, the Peterites were trailing 0-8 at half time and it was eventually a last-minute try that enabled them to reach the President’s Trophy final for the 16th time.

No doubt, the pressure will be on the Peterites as they will start the final as favourites with a star-studded line-up led by the dynamic third row forward Ashain Madugaspe. Isipathana, of course, would not mind going in as the underdogs for this final as they will be well prepared to take on their rivals with an improved performance.

Their reputation as the ‘Kings of Schools Rugby’ is now in danger and will need to come out with a different game plan if they are to retain the title for another year.

The past winners:

1985 (Isipathana), 1986 (Isipathana), 1987 (Trinity), 1988 (Royal), 1989 (S. Thomas’), 1990 (S. Thomas’), 1991 (S. Thomas’), 1992 (Isipathana), 1993 (Trinity), 1994 (S. Thomas’), 1995 (St. Peter’s), 1996 (Isipathana), 1997 (Isipathana), 1998 (Thurstan), 1999 (Isipathana), 2000 (Kingswood), 2001 (Isipathana), 2002 (Royal), 2003 (Kingswood), 2004 (Kingswood), 2005 (Kingswood), 2006 (St. Peter’s), 2007 (St. Peter’s), 2008 (St. Peter’s), 2009 (S. Thomas’), 2010 (Royal/St. Peter’s), 2011 (Trinity), 2012 (Isipathana), 2013 (Wesley), 2014 (Isipathana), 2015 (Science College), 2016 (Isipathana), 2017 (St. Josephs’), 2018 (St. Peter’s), 2019 (St.Peter’s), 2020/2021 (No tournament), 2022 (Isipathana).3

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