Defy odds to pocket all island U-18 crown

By Farook Lantra

Perennial underachievers of hill capital rugby domain Dharmaraja College tamed the high riding St. Peter’s College in the final of the Milo All Island under 18 12 A side tournament by 10 points (two tries) to 7 ( one goal) in the decider played at the Royal Sports Complex over the weekend.

It was a ding dong battle between these two well balanced teams, however Rajans stood out admirably and executed their game plan to perfection and in the process left the strong Peterites gasping for breath. Ironically the victorious Dharmaraja’s outfit was moulded by none other than the rugby legend Hisham Abdeen.

The try scorers for the lake drive schoolboys were B. Udangamuwa and A.Thilina.

According to the Denzil Darling the Secretary of the  Sri Lanka Schools Rugby Football Association (SLSRFA) six schools had pulled out of the tournament at the last minute. They were St. Anthony’s Katugastota, St. John’s Nugegoda, S. Thomas Mount Lavinia, Kingswood, D.S. Senanayake  and St. Joseph’s Colombo.

More than 200 participants from 17 leading schools in the Island took part in this tournament which was sponsored by Nestle Lanka PLC and organized by the SLSRFA.

The chief guest was Sajeewa Wickremasinghe (Activations & Sponsorship Manager, Nestle Lanka PLC).

The Plate was won by Science College who beat Thurstan College by 07 points to 03, while the Bowl was won by Wesley College Colombo who best C.W.W Kannangara College by 19 points to 05. Lalith Wijesingha of Dharmaraja College was adjudged the best player of the tournament. 

Dharmaraja College beat Trinity College (27-05) in the Quarter Finals and got the better of Royal College in the Semi Final. St. Peter’s defeated Vidyartha College 12-00 and downed Isipathana to reach the final.