By A Special Sports Correspondent

Isipatana College made St. Peter’s College experience a nerve tingling 70 minutes of play before winning the President’s trophy schools rugby knockout final with a thrilling 34 points to 29 win at the Sugathadasa Stadium on Sunday.

It was sweet revenge for the Green Shirts who avenged their defeat in the league tournament at the hands of St. Peter’s. Isipatana certainly looked like the side to win this knockout final with a stellar performance in both halves; the green shirts collecting their points through four tries, one conversion and four well taken penalties. The Peterites responded with four tries, three conversions and one penalty. Isipatana led 20-12 at halftime, thanks to three splendid tries that came through Abdul Aziz, skipper Nisaja Jayaweera and Nimantha Sandeepa.

Isipatana looked to enjoy a cutting edge over their opponents with some very sharp moves in the first half despite playing minus their regular linkman Kalindu Silva who was ruled out from playing a part in the final due to a red card offense he was guilty of in the semi final game against S. Thomas’. But the side from Havelock town rallied together in this do or die game and brought much respect to their school by adding another piece of silverware to the trophy cupboard.

The man to watch in the Isipatana side in the second session of play was fly half Shahid Zumri who slotted in three vital penalties and powered his way over for try to stall the Peterites.

The Peterites stood out for honours in this game with players like sipper Dulaj Nawodya, Pasindu Bandara, Revon Perera, Ranidu Ridmal and place kicker Raul Denish Peter excelling during crucial stages of the game. Bandara touched down twice and kicker Peter with his kicking sills kept the scoreboard ticking , but Isipatana’s defence and counter attacking undid the efforts of Bambalapitiya lads.

The tournament was conducted by the Sri Lanka Schools Rugby Football Association and sponsored by Dialog.

By Reemus Fernando

Lyceum International Wattala athlete Dilini Rajapaksa produced an outstanding 6.26 metres effort to stake a claim to the best athlete title and in the boys’ category Shivantha Deshan of Holy Cross College, Kalutara and Mayon Rajasinghe of St. Joseph’s College stole the limelight as the Athletics Championship of the Western Province Schools Games commenced at Diyagama.

Rajapaksa became the first athlete in the Under 16 age category to clear the six metres barrier at these Games. The previous record stood at 5.54metres.

Mayon Rajasinghe competing for St. Joseph’s (formerly of Prince of Wales College) cleared 15.01 metres to shatter the meet record in the Under 16 boys shot put.

In the Under 16 boys 800 metres Deshan clocked 2:02.9 seconds to break the previous record slashing two seconds from the record to win.

In the Under 18 boys 800 metres, St. Benedict’s College athlete Oshada Jayamanne clocked 1:55.2 seconds to establish a new meet record.

On the opening day marred by delays due to both administrative faux pass and rain Ashen Thevarapperuma of Gateway College gave a notable start creating a new record in the Under 14 boys’ long jump with a feat of 6.06 metres.

Mayon Rajasinghe competes in the Under 16 boys shot put.

Saha Kapilasena and Yuhansa Peiris won the boys and girls singles titles of the Under 16 age category at the 109th National Tennis Championship continued at the Sri Lanka Tennis Association courts on Sunday.

Saha Kapilasena beat Louis Knese 7-5, 6-3 in the boys final. He reached the final with a 6-2, 6-1 win over Jamal Sabry in the semi-final. At the quarter-finals Kapilasena beat Lithum Kayabandu 7-5, 6-5.

In the girls’ under 16 final, Yuhansa Peiris beat Akesha Silva 6-3, 6-4.

Yuhansa edged out Binudi Wijewardane 6-1, 6-3 before beating Wenuli Jayasinghe 6-4, 7-6. Meanwhile, in the men’s doubles final Apna Perera and Chathurya Nilaweera beat Yashitha de Silva and Dilvan Herath 6-4, 6-4 to win the title.