Isipathana, St. Joseph’s in final showdown for knockout title
The last time both teams met, Joes overcame Pathana by a poit
The curtains of the Under-19 Inter-Schools Rugby season will come down with the final clash for the Dialog Schools Knockout title between reigning league champions Isipathana and St. Joseph’s scheduled to be kicked off from 4.15pm onwards today at the Royal Sports Complex ground in Reid Avenue.
Isipathana, led by No.8 Dahan Wickramaarachchi, will come into the game with one mission in their mind of making it a double having already bagged the league title. On the other hand St. Joseph’s, led by centre Teran Karunanayke, will be seeking to make amends of having ended up as the second best team in the league segment and will be looking forward to take a step further by clinching the knockout title.
But it’s left to be seen whether the Darley Road boys would be able make any impression to control the cool headed Havelock Park boys as so far they have been able to maintain their unbeaten record and for sure the scale is no doubt in favor of the Pathanians.
Looking back at the two semi-finals, the two team’s confronted against S. Thomas’ and Wesley. Isipathana had an easy passage against the Thomians while the Josephians underwent some anxious moments against Wesley before pulling off a win through a penalty in the last minute during extra time.
Another factor is that two teams will be meeting in a knockout final for the second time with the first which was in the year 2017 the Josephians came out victorious. With that in mind the Isipathana will come into the field to avenge that defeat.
Isipathana on the other hand will be seeking to win their 11th knockout title since way back in 1985 and apart from that they have ended as runners-up on 13 occasions. Their last knockout title win was in 2016. They will no doubt put in all their efforts to regain the trophy after a lapse of three years with the tournament not being held in 2020 and 2021 due to Covid-19 pandemic.
Looking at the strength and capabilities of the two teams, Isipathana skipper Dahan has his in ranks players in the calibre of hooker Sangeeth Kodagoda, centre Chamoth Iroshan, full back Malith Mihisara, flanker Tharindu Wewalpanditha, fly half Naveen Kanishka and winger Rinesh Silva to name a few to deliver the goods.
St. Joseph’s skipper Teran will bank on No.8 Naveen Marasinghe who is in top form, fly half Dilhara Subash, prop Jehan Athukorala, flanker Sachinthana Waidyantha, locks Randika Dahamjaya, Isuru Kanchana, Sithija Sanjeewa, hooker Chamod Seneviratne, winger Deshan Vimukthi, fly half Sahan Keerthisiri, prop Jehann Athukorala and centres Vihanga Randeepa and Mandara Amarasekera to deliver the goods.
When the two sides met each other the last time in 2019, the Josephians came out on top with a wafer thin one point (18-17) victory in the league encounter but this time out the scenario is completely different as the high riding Pathanians will leave no stone unturned to achieve the double. The Josephians will strive to tarnish the unbeaten record of their opponents and with either of them seeking to end the season on a winning note a keen and closely contested game could be witnessed.