The final kicked off past 6 pm, and in the first half St. Peter’s were able to score a goal. In the second half play was possible only for three minutes and Peterites were able to score a try and increase their tally to 12-0.

This final had to be called off in the third minute of the second half due to bad light, according to Schools Association rugby secretary Denzil Darling. Both teams had before the match agreed to the conditions that in the event of the match being stopped due to bad light the winner will be the team that is leading on points. In this instance the Peterites who were the only team to score were awarded the title.

The event ran for two days at the Nittawela and Bogambara Stadiums. Originally they were to play the first day matches at Pallekelle and Bogamabara, but in the eleventh hour they changed it to Nittawela.

The tournament was organized by the Sri Lanka Schools Rugby Football Association and sponsored by Nestle and featured some of the best under 16 rugby players from the country.

Overall 384 young schoolboys from 32 schools were seen in action. Originally 34 schools were to participate but two schools from Malate and from Moratuwa pulled out.

The tournament has been held annually since 1995 and is one of the largest annual rugby competitions amongst schools, drawing large crowds.

Cup

(Quarterfinals): St. Peter’s beat St. Anthony’s, Trinity beat Kingswood, Royal beat Wesley and Science beat Isipathana; (Semi-finals): St. Peter’s beat Trinity and Royal beat Science.

Plate

In the Plate final Kingswood College defeated Wesley College 14-12. Both teams dished out a superb game of rugby, and the winning team saved their best for the last. In the semi-finals Kingswood beat St. Anthony’s and Wesley beat Isipathana.

Bowl

In the final St. Joseph’s beat D.S. Senanayake 19-5. In semis St. Joseph’s beat Dharmaraja and D.S. Senanayake beat C.W.W. Kannangara MV

Shield

In the Shield final, Ananda beat arch rivals Nalanda 20-nil. In the semi-finals Ananda beat Thurstan and Nalanda beat St. Sylvester’s.

Six top rugby playing schools will battle it out for honours in the Milo President’s Trophy Knockout Rugby Tournament which will be worked off at the Royal Sports Complex from June 28 to July 12.

Unbeaten league champions Royal, league runners-up and last years knockout champions Isipathana, Trinity, Science, St.Peter’s and D.S.Senanayake are the six schools which are in the fray.

St.Joseph’s College who were placed sixth in the ‘A’ Division League, pulled out from the tournament citing injuries to their key players. Plate trophy winners Wesley College and runners up St.Anthony’s College Kandy too have indicated their inability to take part in the tournament.

D.S.Senanayake who were placed third in the Plate Tournament, will get the opportunity to take part in the President’s Trophy. Science College Mount Lavinia will confront St.Peter’s College in the curtain raiser of the tournament at the Royal Sports Complex on June 28 while on the following day, Trinity College Kandy will take on D.S.Senanayake College at the same venue.

League Champions Royal who have drawn a bye, will take on the winners of the Peterite – Science game in the first semi-final at the Royal Sports Complex on July 4.

League Runners-up Isipathana who too have drawn a bye, will meet the winners of the Trinity – D.S.Senanayake match in the second semi-final at the same venue on July 5 with the finals scheduled for July 12.

The Assistant Vice President of Nestle Lanka PLC Norman Kannangara speaking at the press briefing said that Nestle Lanka is honoured to once again sponsor the President’s Trophy, Premier Trophy and Chairman’s Trophy knockout rugby tournaments this year. The highly acclaimed President’s Trophy tournament was expanded in 2007 to include a Premier Trophy Tournament with the aim of giving more teams the opportunity to show their prowess.

One year later, in 2008, with the intention of giving a chance to lesser known schools to compete at the same level the Chairman’s Trophy was included. He said “ Milo and SLSRFA’s partnership had gone from strength to strength over a period of 23 years and hoped this year’s tournament will produce rugby of a high standard.”

The President of the SLSRFA Ranjith Chandrasekara expressed that with top schools like Royal, Isipathana, Trinity, Science and St.Peter’s competing in the tournament, a high standard of rugby could be expected.

He also thanked Nestle Lanka PLC for coming forward to sponsor this tournament for the 23rd year which has helped to uplift the standard of Schools Rugby.