High-stakes showdowns await in Schools Rugby League Cup Segment

Saturday, 26 July 2025 02:56 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

By Shamseer Jaleel

The Dialog Schools Rugby League Under-19 Cup segment is set for another thrilling weekend as three high-voltage encounters will be worked off today (26 July), with the league standings hanging in the balance. Two games will be played in Colombo while one game will take place in Kandy when unbeaten Trinity lock horns with Isipathana at Pallekele.

All eyes will be on the Pallekele game where the unbeaten Trinity College hosts Isipathana College in what promises to be a fierce contest. Trinity, led by Usmaan Shafraz will be determined to maintain their flawless record this season. They have done really well this season losing only one game in the President Trophy knockout final against the Greens in the final. In the league they have a clean sheet plus two more home games await them against Wesley and St Peter’s.

This will be the 39th meeting between the two schools, dating back to 1966. Isipathana leads the head-to-head with 20 wins while Trinity got 14 wins while 4 encounters ending in draws. The drawn encounters were in 1990, 1992, 1993 and 2018.

Trinity currently sits at top of the Cup segment with 12 points, having beaten all opponents so far. Isipathana, however, finds themselves in 5th position, still recovering from mixed results this season after losing to Thomians.

The game has added significance as Trinity will be looking to avenge their President Trophy final defeat to Isipathana this year. With form and home advantage on their side, the Trinitians will be hard to stop.

Referee will be Ishanka Abeykoon.

Royal College will host Wesley College at the Royal Complex in another crucial encounter. Both teams have one defeat each so far in the campaign.

Royal were beaten by Trinity, while Wesley went down to Isipathana last weekend at Havelock Park. Both teams are tied on 6 points, with Wesley in 2nd place due to a better points difference and Royal just behind in 4th. Wesley skipper Sandul Gamanpila is a doubtful starter as he is recovering from dengue where he missed the much important Isipathana clash which took place last week.

Referee will be Gihan Yatawara.

The third match of the day will see S. Thomas College take on St. Peter’s College for the prestigious Archibald Perera Trophy.

The Thomians, who suffered a tough loss to Trinity last weekend, will aim to bounce back strongly. The Peterites are yet to find form, having lost to both Wesley and Royal. Archibald Perera Trophy tally is Thomians leading with 22 wins to Peterites 12 while 3 ending in draws. This encounter will be the 38th between the two schools. This will be the 38th trophy encounter the two esteemed Institutions with Thomians leading the tally with 22 wins to Peterites 12 while 3 ending in draws.

Referee will be Jeewaka Fonseka.

With just a few weeks remaining in the league, 26 July could prove to be a decisive day in the race for the Under-19 Cup title.

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