Title-chasing Royal face Joes

Royal College’s title charge will be tested when they face St. Joseph’s College in their Singer Inter-school Under-20 Division 1 League Rugby Tournament match at Reid Avenue today.
Royal of course are unbeaten thus far in the tournament and are one of the hot contenders for the league title, but they should make sure they go on to the final week of the competition unbeaten to stand any chance of regaining the biggest championship in Sri Lanka’s school rugby.
Like Isipathana College, Royalists do have a very strong pack which is one of the reasons why they score so many tries off the rolling maul, but having said that, their back division players have been able to produce some cracking tries over the course of the last few months. One bloke who just cannot stop scoring tries is wing three quarter Mahima Gamage. He has been in top form since the first leg of Bradby at Pallekele.
Captain and centre Bhanuka Gamage may not have captured the headlines as some of his teammates, but has been a workhorse for his side. However the real star of the season so far is their number eight Supun Warnakulasooriya, who has scored 13 tries – more than any other.
At times he plays as the hooker, but mostly as the number eight. However, the most important part being he finds a way to cross the white wash. Last season he scored 17 tries – the most for a hooker – and this time around he’s looking pretty good to better his own record.
On the other hand big things were expected of St. Joseph’s ever since they beat arch rivals St. Peter’s College at the very beginning of the season. They did play very well against the defending champions Isipathana, though they were edged out 20-18. Their defeat to Science College seems to have damaged their confidence, and they struggled a bit against S. Thomas’ despite beating them 27-25. Big prop forward Stephan Gregory has been leading the way for the Darley Road lads with nine tries.
Flanker Shehan Bopearachchi’s form in the first few matches was one of the reasons why Joes had a fantastic run. He, along with the number eight and captain Taariq Salih, will have to play a huge role if they are to pull off an upset against the much stronger Royal outfit.
Many have already tipped the Royal-Isipathana clash to decide this year’s winner, but prior to that it will be very important for both the sides that they see off St. Joseph’s and Trinity College respectively this week.
Meanwhile St Peter’s College will host S. Thomas’ College at Bambalapitiya, while Kingswood College, Kandy will travel to Mount Lavinia to take on Science College.
Wesley College will face Dharmaraja College, Kandy in a Plate Championship match at Longden Place.
Royal XV: Ayesh Maduranga, Harith Lokugamage, Nikhila Gunadheera, Chandula Jayasundara, Umesha Madushan, Shawkat Lahir, Keshan Peiris, Supun Warnakulasooriya, Ashok Wijekumar and Gayal Jayasinghe, Mahima Gamage, Gawesh Yapa, Bhanuka Gamage, Andrew de Silva, Ovin Askey
Joseph’s XV: Charana Chamikara, Devon Fernando, Stephan Gregory, Ishane Peters, Raveen de Silva, Viraj Perera, Shehan Bopearachchi, Taariq Salih, Vimukthi Rahul and Raveen Antonio, Vinul Fernando, Romesh Priyankara, Suneth Chathuranga, Gemunu Chethiya, Shamilka Kurumbalapitiya