The Royalists have an immaculate record after five matches and their cause has been severely bolstered by the presence of ever reliable forwards who are scoring try after try through their famous rolling maul in this League tournament to go along with the dependable place kicking of their young 17-year-old full back Ovin Askey.

They have had no challenge against D.S.Senanayaka College(36-10), Wesley College(17-14), St.Joseph College(27 all draw), Trinity (winning the 1st leg 22-17). Royal went down to Trinity in the return leg in Kandy by 13-18. Last week they stage a spectacular come back where they were trailing 0-19 down to win 33-24 against the fighting Peterites.

Their only blemish this season coming against arch rival S’Thomas College, Mount Lavinia where they were leading till the last minute and lost in the end by 22-16.

On the other hand St.Anthony’s College possesses Samuel Maduwantha their ever reliable fly half who can play in the pivotal position of full back also is the highest point scorer in this year’s on going ‘Singer’ League but has been blowing hot and cold and is savouring the sting of two straight defeats in the past two weeks. Unbeaten Thomians came from behind to invoke their spirit against Anthonians. Isipatha didn’t need any invitations to thrash the Katugasthota outfit last week as well. Also they lost to St. Peter’s in kandy.

These were preceded by two victories over two Kandy Schools, Darmaraja College and Kingswood College but the bite has been taken off their campaign later on and it could be worse for them after this week.

According to sources, this season the Antonians field a formidable side. In the last couple of years, the Katugastota School failed to live up to their past reputation, and now play in Division II.
So this time the team is packed with most of last year’s cricketers. Kanishka Uggalpaya is expected to lead the side with old boy Prasad Ranawake as the coach.

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.