U-20 Rugby: Milo Knockouts semi-finals from Sunday

The teams to clash in the Milo Schools President’s Trophy schools rugby knockout tournament has been found and now the stage is set and arrangements are finalized to play the semi-finals with the first to be played on Sunday (5) at the Royal Sports Complex.   However Royal, the schools rugby league champions of 2015 who are scheduled to lock horns with Science College in the second semi-final on Monday (6) are facing problems to field the league title winning team due to injuries and other reasons.   A senior rugby official of the Royal rugby committee said the school league championship and the Bradby Shield encounters were too strenuous.   As a result some of the senior players are now in the injury list.   He said “training for the two Bradby encounters and the second leg of the league tournament was very strenuous. The other reason is some of the players are facing the GCE Advanced level examinations and the parents have requested to give the boys some respite”.   He went on to say that 12 senior players will not be playing in the semi-final against Science tomorrow also the playing side which will virtually be a development team would be under the guidance of Dushantha Lewke.   The match will be played at the Havelock Park – a neutral venue at 4.30pm.   But he was optimistic saying “we are not trying to find excuses but this is the real fact” and concluded by saying “even though it’s a development side it would be good for the future of rugby at Royal”.   In this game Science will be looking forward to book a berth to the final for the first time due to the fact that the Royal side will be playing a second stream team.   But credit cannot be taken away from the Science side as they have been performing more than expectations and has been a side to take note of this season.   So they will be having the edge in the game on Sunday.   The semi-final between Isipathana and Trinity scheduled to be played at Royal Complex today should be a keenly contested game as the Trinitians will be coming with the aim of seeking revenge for their defeat in the league tournament last month.   But Isipathana the triple champions of last year would no doubt be coming into the game with the aim of qualifying to the final and at least clinch the knockout title this year as they missed out in winning the sevens and the league titles.   So with the two teams coming into the field with the same vision there is no doubt as mentioned that a closely contested game could be witnessed.   Apart from these two semi finals the Chairman’s Trophy and Premier Trophy semi-finals will also be played.   These four semi-finals are scheduled to be played on Tuesday (7) at Longdon Place starting from 10.15am.   President’s Trophy July 5: Trinity vs Isipathana at Royal Complex July 6: Royal vs Science at Havelock Park   Premier Trophy at Longdon Place July 7 - 2.45pm: Piliyandala Central vs Lalith Athulathmudali MV July 7 - 4.30pm: Mahanama Colombo vs Ananda   Chairman Trophy at Longdon Place July 7 - 10.15am: Bandaranayake MMV Gampaha vs Carey July 7 1.30pm: Veluwana MV vs St. Thomas’ Matale