The U16 ten’s tournament kicked off today (09th August) at the Bogambara and Pallekele stadiums in Kandy, springing some dominant performances as 8 teams advanced to the cup quarterfinals.
The quarter final spots have been well reserved. Defending champions Wesley will take on hometown favorites Trinity in the first quarter final. Royal and the Joes will go head to head in the second quarter final followed by the Isipathana – D.S. Senanayake battle in the third and Dharmaraja taking on St. Peter’s in the final quarter-final.
Lineup – Cup Quarter Finals:
- QF 1 – Trinity College vs Wesley College
- QF 2 – Royal College vs St. Joseph’s College
- QF 3 – Isipathana College vs D.S.Senanayake College
- QF 4 – Dharmaraja College vs St. Peter’s College
Eight groups saw 25 teams take center stage at the two venues in the hill capital as three teams were placed in the first two groups A and B, with group C holding 4 teams and group D containing five teams as they battled their way out of the groups at the Pallekalle Stadium. The rest of the groups were taken further away to the Bogambara Stadium.
Starting off, Wesley College the defending champions slotted in to Group A, booked a top dog spot and also a quarter final entry early morning on day 02 after comfortable wins against Vidyartha College, Mahanama College and Prince of Wales; Vidyartha College rather comfortably with the latter two.
Both Royal College and Zahira College defeated Piliyandala Central and Rahula College with ease, making an interesting group decider between the two teams in the group B.
Royal who started on their merry way took an early lead and remained so for the rest of the game to be top dogs.
In group C Trinity College overcame their obstacles against St. Anthony’s College and St. Benedicts College booking the top spot in the group for themselves.
St. Joseph’s College were placed in a rather complicated group, however they made no mistake, dispatching the teams to be the top dog in the group. Rest of the teams fell away from the tournament with only consolation victories.
Concurrently the next four groups were played at Bogambara.
After winning the groups St. Peter’s, Isipathana, Dharmaraja and D.S. Senanayake have emerged group winners and will be contenders in the cup division while Kingswood College and Vidyartha College are two teams that have missed out in the group stages.
The game of the day was in Group G, as St. Peter’s edged out Science College 13-10 after a nail biting group decider. Both teams won their other matches with big margins.
Isipathana College show cased some brilliant running rugby through their forwards running the show. Sumangala and Maliyadeva held no chance against the green machine. Sumangala College managed to secure a bowl quarter final ending up in second place.
D.S. Senanayake was the surprise package of the tournament so far playing some excellent rugby today at Bogambara. Their handling skills were at another level amidst the rain. They hammered the rest of the group with 30+ margins in all three matches against Kingswood, St. Sylvester’s and Moratuwa MV.
Dharmaraja rather got an easy group as they hammered everyone even after receiving a bye courtesy of Richmond College not turning up.
Tomorrow the less important quarter finals will take place after the cup quarter finals in the morning half of the day.
Bowl Quarter Finals
- QF 1 – Vidyartha College vs St.Anthony’s College
- QF 2 – Zahira College vs St. Lumbini College
- QF 3 – Sri Sumangala College vs St.Sylvester’s College
- QF 4 – Science College vs Thurstan College
Shield Quarter Finals
- QF 1 – Mahanama College vs St.Benedict’s College
- QF 2 – Piliyandala Central vs St.Aloysius College
- QF 3 – Maliyadeva College vs Kingswood College
- QF 4 – Ananda College vs Lalith Athulathmudali MV
