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Royal crush defending champs Pathana: into finals after 10 years
Royal College annihilated defending champions Isipathana College 39-13 yesterday (29) at Longden Place in the 2nd Semifinal of the President’s Trophy Knockout Rugby game. The ground was a dust bowl to say the least as the conditions at the home CR&FC proved dangerously below par for any kind of sporting activity. The grand final will be played on Saturday 4 April between Bradby Shield rivals Trinity and Royal. Trinity were runners-up last year. This will be the very first Trinity-Royal grand final in the tournament’s history. It was Isipathana who started off with a bang scoring the opening try through a brilliant three-quarter move as quick hands enabled them to get an early lead. However Royal were calm and composed which eventually paved the way for their marauding attack and defence to click together to go on a rampage against the ‘Green Machine’. This game saw a very interesting off the field battle as a former player who played under the tutelage of veteran coach Sanath Martis was the Head Coach of Royal – Bhanuka Nanayakkara. He played for St. Peter’s when Martis was in charge and was part of the SPC coaching unit later before making a move to the Reid Avenue outfit. Martis coaching his Alma Mater Isipathana after many decades will have to go back to the drawing board to rectify what went wrong and come back strong in the league tourney. Halftime: Royal 19- 8 Isipathana Isipathana were quick to get back into the game in the second essay and did just what the doctor ordered through a try. Yet again Royal were waiting to pounce back as they accumulated back to back tries and penalties to really hurt the Pathana faithful. This is the first time since 2019 that there will be a non-Isipathana knockout final. The greens have been in four consecutive finals from 2022-2025. Fulltime: Royal College 39 (5T 4C 2P) beat Isipathana College 13 (2T 1P) Historic facts Last time Royal won the title – 2002 under Zulki Hamid (beat Wesley 25-16 at Royal Complex) Last time Trinity won the title – 2011 under Murad Ramzeen (beat Isipathana 21-10 at Royal Complex) Royal’s last final – 2016 (lost to Isipathana 47-12 at Racecourse) Trinity’s last final – 2025 (lost to Isipathana 12-9 at Royal Complex) Trinity’s finals: faced Isipathana (1987, 1993, 2011, 2012, 2025) and Wesley (2013) Royal’s finals: faced Isipathana (1986, 1988, 2014, 2016) and Wesley (2002)
Maharagama Central clinches Chairman's Trophy in nail-biting one-point ...
The Dialog Schools Rugby Tournament 2026 reached an exhilarating climax at the Finals of the Chairman’s Trophy, where Maharagama Central College emerged victorious over Madina National School, Madawala in a breathtaking contest which was staged at the Royal College School Complex. In a match that kept fans on the edge of their seats until the final whistle, Maharagama Central secured a thrilling one-point victory, winning 20 – 19 after leading the first half 10 – 05, surviving a massive second-half comeback from the lads from Kandy. The opening fifteen minutes were a display of end-to-end Rugby, filled with intensity and physicality, though neither side could trouble the scorers initially. The deadlock was finally broken by Maharagama Central following a series of disciplinary errors by Madina. After receiving a penalty for off-the-feet play at the five-meter mark, Maharagama opted for a tap. The huge prop forward, Akila Akash, displayed immense power to break through the defense and take the first blood of the game. (Maharagama 05 – 00 Madina) Ten minutes later, Maharagama struck again. Advancing deep into Madina’s territory, they earned another penalty on the five-meter line, this time for a high tackle. While Madina expected a heavy forward drive and set up a packed defense, the Maharagama lads showed tactical awareness by spinning the ball wide to the three-quarters. They created an overlap effortlessly, allowing outside center Vihanga Sathruwan to cross the whitewash for their second try. (Maharagama 10 – 00 Madina) >>Wesley College steamrolls Mahanama College in Pre-Quarter Final rout However, the game took a turn when the Maharagama side was reduced to 14 men due to a yellow card for dangerous play. Seizing the opportunity, Madina launched an assault at the brink of Half Time. Despite being a man down, Maharagama’s defense stood valiantly, but crucial errors near the try line invited pressure. Madina capitalised on a penalty for a high tackle near the line, executing a quick tap to plant their first try courtesy of Mohammed Rahmy. The conversion attempt was unsuccessful. (Maharagama 10 – 05 Madina) The short whistle was followed by the unsuccessful conversion attempt and the lads from Maharagama went for the lemons with a lead but just of an unconverted try. Half Time – Maharagama Central College 10 (2T) – Madina National School 05 (1T) The second half began with Maharagama on the front foot once again. After advancing into Madina’s territory thro...
Nuwan Thushara files lawsuit against SLC for IPL NOC
A superb knock of 146 runs by Rehan Peiris held the Royal College top order together as they posted 319 in their first innings on day one of the Under 19 Division I Tier 'A' quarter-final against Mahanama College at the D.H.H. Ground, Madampella on Thursday.
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