Premier Trophy semis set to produce exciting Rugby

Some exciting rugby is on the cards when the top ‘B’ Division teams clash in the Premier Trophy and Chairman’s Trophy Inter-Schools Knock-Out Under-19 Rugby Tournament semi-finals on Saturday and Sunday at Havelock Park.

All favourites won their respective quarter-final matches last week and now they are set for the penultimate hurdle before qualifying for the grand finals, scheduled for September 9 at the Royal Sports Complex in Colombo. In the Premier Trophy Tournament, the Segment ‘B’ league champions Thurstan College have received a bye to the semi-finals and they will be joined by

Piliyandala Central, Maliyadeva College and Sri Sumangala College, Kandy. In fact, Piliyandala Central were quite impressive in the quarter-finals as they defeated Lumbini 32-24 in a high-scoring encounter and set up a semi-final showdown against the unbeaten Thurstan outfit.

This was sweet revenge for Piliyandala Central as they were beaten 15-21 by the same opponents earlier in a league tournament fixture played at Havelock Park last month.

Meanwhile, the Segment ‘B’ league runners-up Sri Sumangala, Kandy had a close call as they were stretched to the maximum before edging out Ananda College 24-20 in a thrilling quarter-final encounter.

Their opponents in the semi-finals will be Maliyadeva College, who received a walkover from Mahanama College in the quarter-finals. Lalith Athulathmudali MV, St. John’s Nugegoda and Rahula MV, Kandy emerged victorious in the Chairman’s Trophy quarter-finals with Sri Sumangala, Panadura receiving a bye into the semi-finals.

In fact, Lalith Athulathmudali MV had an easy passage into the last four as they routed Richmond College 18-3 in a one-sided quarter-final while collecting their points from three tries and one penalty.

Now they will face a tough task when they take on the Segment ‘C’ league champions Sri Sumangala, Panadura in the first semi-final encounter. St. John’s College, Nugegoda were equally brilliant as they cruised to a smashing 46-10 victory over Nalanda College after having built up a massive 32-0 lead at half time.

St. John’s, of course suffered only one defeat in the league tournament and they will be determined to make an impact when they take on the league runners-up Rahula, Kandy in the second semi-final.

Results

(Premier Trophy quarter-finals): Piliyandala Central beat Lumbini 32-24, Maliyadeva received a walkover from Mahanama, Sri Sumangala, Kandy beat Ananda 24-20.

(Semi-finals): September 2: Thurstan v Piliyandala Central at Havelock Park – 2.00 p.m.

September 3: Maliyadeva v Sri Sumangala, Kandy at Havelock Park – 2..00 p.m.

(Final): September 9 at Royal Sports Complex – 4.15 p.m.

(Chairman’s Trophy quarter-finals):

Lalith Athulathmudali MV beat Richmond 18-3, St. John’s, Nugegoda beat Nalanda 46-10, Rahula MV, Kandy beat Siri Piyarathana MV 22-7.

(Semi-finals): September 2: Sri Sumangala, Panadura v Lalith Athulathmudali MV at Havelock Park – 10.00 a.m. September 3: Rahula MV, Kandy v St. John’s, Nugegoda at Havelock Park – 10.00 a.m.

(Final): September 9 at Royal Sports Complex – 2.00 p.m.

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