Joe-Pete clash in curtain raiser of schools rugby

The Singer Schools 'A' division league rugby tournament will kick off on April 20 (Friday) when the 2010 league champions St Peter's College play hosts to traditional rivals St Joseph's College, Colombo at Bambalapitiya. The Peterites led by Sri Lanka Youth player Danushka Ranjan will also have the services of experienced campaigners fly half Dulaj Perera, prop Chaturanga Mendis, lock forward Asitha Krishan, wingers Anuradha Herath and Bhanuka Peiris, but will face a strong challenge from the determined Josephians who are led by No. 8 Yohan Keyzer.

The match is being played for the Fr Basil Wiratunge Shield which the Peterites retained with a hard fought win over the Joes at Longden Place last year.

Defending champions Royal College, Colombo will come out for the first time when they confront D S Senanayake College, Colombo on April 21 (Saturday) at the Royal sports complex.

Royal led by fly half Arshad Jamaldeen, will have the services of ten coloursmen - vice captain Iroshan de Alwis, Wasim Bawa, Andrew Siriwardene, Lahiru Pavithra, Madusha Kularatne, Damian Ratwatte, Rimzie Jamaldeen, Ravishan Dassanayake and Ijaz Bohoran but will face stiff resistance from D S Senanayake who were promoted to segment one this year after finishing runners-up of division two last year.

Isipatana College who were runners-up in both the Singer 'A' division league and President's Trophy will also play their first match on April 21 (Saturday) when they take on last year's segment two champions Vidyartha College, Kandy at Longden Place.

Isipatana, led by flanker Kumendra Dharmadasa will have the services of seven of the senior players - winger Shenal Dias, lock forward Udaya Kumar, scrum half Kavindu Costa, centres Sharmal Chaturanga, Kovinda Wimalachandra and hooker Menaka Siriwardene, but will face a strong challenge from the lads from Kandy led by No 8 Jason Dissanayake who remained unbeaten in segment two last year to gain promotion to segment one.

Last year's President's Trophy champions Trinity College, Kandy will begin their campaign when they play host to Science College, Mount Lavinia on the same day at Pallekelle.

The Trinitians are led by Sri Lanka Youth player and centre Kanil Seneviratne and will have the services of two other Youth players lock forward Randika Alwis and scrum half Sanjaya Somasiri in addition to Anuradha Karunatilleke, Thisila Karunatillake, Shanthana Sheik, Tharinda Ratwatte and will go all out to avenge their last year's defeat by 11-12 to Science College.

Science College led by Kamal Perera will have the services of two Sri Lanka Youth players and five other seniors and should give the Trinitians a run for their money.

In the other match for the weekend, St Anthony's College, Katugastota will confront Kingswood College, Kandy at Nittawela which should turn out to be a closely contested game between two evenly matched teams.