Mahanama College and Lumbini College stunned rivals and group favorites Zahira College and St. Anthony’s College as they booked their Cup quarter-final spots on day one. St. Peter’s, Trinity, Wesley, Royal, Isipathana and St. Joseph’s were the other group leaders to make their way into the Cup quarters, in the Under-14 Ten-a-side rugby tournament played at Sugathadasa Stadium Colombo.
Thirty teams divided into 6 groups of 4, and 2 groups of 3 took the field on day one as the junior rugby season intensified.
The first group of three saw St. Peter’s College winning ‘group A’ as the kids from Bambalapitiya defeated Nalanda and Kingswood successfully, with the 4th team S. Thomas’ Matale not present at the tournament.
| Kingswood College | 19 | 0 | Nalanda College |
| St. Peter’s College | 45 | 0 | Nalanda College |
| St. Peter’s College | 36 | 7 | Kingwood College |
Mahanama College were the surprise package in ‘group B’, as the youngsters managed to get the better out of Carey and Ananda, and also defeating Zahira by a slender 3 point margin to win the group and book a Cup quarter-final spot.
| Mahanama College | 15 | 0 | Ananda College |
| Zahira College | 27 | 0 | Carey College |
| Mahanama College | 15 | 12 | Zahira College |
| Ananda College | 26 | 0 | Carey College |
| Mahanama College | 34 | 0 | Carey College |
| Zahira College | 26 | 8 | Ananda College |
The second group of three, ‘group C’ saw Trinity College score a last gasp winner, beating Dharmaraja College to book their Cup quarter-final berth. They also won over St. Benedict’s, leaving fellow Kandy lads Rajans heart broken. St. Aloysius College was the team not present in this group and each team played just two games on the day.
| Trinity College | 24 | 0 | St. Benedict’s College |
| Dharmaraja College | 27 | 16 | St. Benedict’s College |
| Dharmaraja College | 12 | 17 | Trinity College |
‘Group D’ witnessed the favorites from Kandy, St. Anthony’s College face a tough defeat at the hands of Lumbini College who held on for a 5-point win, taking a surprise top spot in the group.
| Lumbini College | 5 | 0 | Sylvester’s College |
| St. Anthony’s College | 29 | 0 | Sylvester’s College |
| Lumbini College | 39 | 0 | CWW Kannangara |
| Lumbini College | 10 | 5 | St. Anthony’s College |
| CWW Kannangara | 0 | 19 | Sylvester’s College |
Wesley College cruised past Prince of Wales, Piliyandala Central, and Sumangala College Kandy as the Les-Blues won ‘group E’ with ease, taking out the 6th Cup quarter-final place.
| Wesley College | 19 | 0 | Sumangala College |
| Prince of Wales | 10 | 7 | Piliyandala Central |
| Wesley College | 19 | 0 | Piliyandala Central |
| Prince of Wales | 5 | 10 | Sumangala College |
| Wesley College | 26 | 0 | Prince of Wales |
| Piliyandala Central | 12 | 0 | Prince of Wales |
Royal College were pushed by Vidyartha College who fought hard till the final whistle. However Vidyartha failed to breach the usually strong Royal defensive wall, and the lads from Kandy had to be satisfied for second spot in ‘group F’, while Royal won the group.
| Royal College | 36 | 0 | Lalith Athulathmudali |
| Vidyartha College | 37 | 0 | Thurstan College |
| Royal College | 32 | 0 | Thurstan College |
| Vidyartha College | 38 | 0 | Lalith Athulathmudali |
| Vidyartha College | 0 | 5 | Royal College |
| Thurstan College | 19 | 0 | Lalith Athulathmudali |
DS Senanayake College was the only team to pose a threat towards Isipathana College as the DS boys drew with Isipathana in their ‘group G’ fixture. However a superior point difference meant the Green machine progressed though, leaving the DS lads disappointed.
| Isipathana College | 43 | 0 | Eheliyagoda CC |
| DS Senanayake | 17 | 0 | Maliyadeva College |
| Isipathana College | 22 | 0 | Maliyadeva College |
| DS Senanayake | 33 | 0 | Eheliyagoda CC |
| Maliyadeva College | 7 | 5 | Eheliyagoda CC |
| Isipathana College | 12 | 12 | DS Senanayake |
In ‘group H’ Science College posed a threat towards St. Joseph’s College. But the boys from Maradana overcame the Science lads to win, ending the day in horrible lighting conditions unsuitable for rugby.
| St. Joseph’s College | 20 | 0 | St. John’s College |
| Science College | 29 | 0 | Royal Panadura |
| St. Joseph’s College | 36 | 0 | Royal Panadura |
| Science College | 7 | 5 | St. John’s College |
| Science College | 0 | 20 | St. Joseph’s College |
| Royal Panadura | 0 | 15 | St. John’s College |
The group winners will line up in the Cup quarter-finals, while the 8 runners up move into the Bowl quarter-finals. The 8 teams placed third in each group move into the Shield quarter-finals.
Day two fixtures:
| CUP QUARTERS | |
| ST:PETER’S | MAHANAMA |
| TRINITY | LUMBINI |
| Bm | ROYAL |
| ISIPATHNA | ST:JOSEPHS |
| BOWL QUARTERS | |
| KINGSWOOD | ZAHIRA |
| DHARMARAJA | ST:ANTHONY’S |
| PILIYANDALA | VIDYARTHA |
| D.S | SCIENCE |
| SHIELD QUARTERS | |
| NALANDA | ANANDA |
| ST:BENEDICT’S | ST:SYLVESTER’S |
| SUMANGALA | THURSTAN |
| MALIYADEWA | ST:JOHNS |
Day two is scheduled to begin at 9am tomorrow at the Sugathadasa Stadium for the business end of the tournament.
