Last weekend’s Joe-Pete clash for the Fr. Basil Weerathunga trophy brought in a new ray of hope for the school down Darley road as the two-horse race will now have a third entrant heading into the final weekend of the Singer Schools Rugby League 2018.
For 7 long weeks, only two schools seemed to have a chance at the title as the rugby fraternity expected a final week clash that would decide the league title. However, the 10-5 win by the Josephians on Saturday (2nd) has now catapulted them into the race, alongside Royal College and St. Peter’s College.
Maintaining a 14-week unbeaten record in the Schools Rugby League, the defending champions Royal need only a draw against St. Peter’s this coming weekend to retain the crown; a feat no team has achieved in the past decade.
The updated points table after 8 weeks of action, is as follows:
Points Table week 8 – Cup Championship. ThePapare Stats Centre
Points Table | Schools Rugby League 2018 Division I ‘A’ & ‘B’
Points Table of the Schools Rugby League 2018…
However, with both St. Peter’s and St. Joseph’s having the opportunity to spoil Royal’s party, ThePapare takes a look at all of the possibilities on how each of these teams can win the title based on the final week’s clashes.
Royal College
For Sabith Feroz and his team to ensure that they retain the silverware at Reid Avenue, they will only require a draw in the final week at which their Total Points will climb from 46 to 49.
If the Royalists fail to register a win or a draw in the final week at the Complex, there’s still a 60% chance for them to win the title.
View Royal’s performance this season on ThePapare Stats Centre
Royal College will need to win two bonus points on the loss (score more than 4 tries and register a score within 7 points of St Peter’s) taking their total to 48. Then, even if St. Joseph’s who are currently in 2nd place win their final game with a bonus point and go equal with Royal (42+6), they will still be champions based on the result in the game between the two teams.
According to the tournament rules, at an instance when the points of two schools are equal, positions on the points table will be based on the result of the match between the two schools.
In this case, the Royalists registered an important 18-13 win against St. Joseph’s in week 4 of the league.
St. Joseph’s College v Royal College | ThePapare Stats Centre
ThePapare Match Centre
St. Joseph’s College
The emerging force in the Schools Rugby format, St. Joseph’s College have seen a new ray of light in the league as they have a mathematical chance of clinching the trophy after their win at Longdon Place that ended the Peterite unbeaten streak.
For Nilfer Ibrahim’s boys to get to a first ever league title, it is mandatory that they get a bonus point win against Isipathana College to climb to 48 points (42+6).
If Royal end up losing and earn less than 2 bonus points and the Josephians get the bonus point win, they will be through to the title.
View St. Joseph’s College’s performance this seaon on ThePapare Stats Centre
The first league title for St. Joseph’s will entirely depend on the outcome of the Royal v St. Peter’s clash in the final week. It will only become a reality if St. Peter’s earn a win against Royal.
Provided that the Peterites restrict the Royalists to earning only one bonus point (46+1) in the case of a loss, fireworks will erupt at Darley road as they will lay their hands on their first-ever league title.
Else, if the two teams draw level on points, it will eventually be Royal’s title due to the set tournament guidelines.
St. Peter’s College
Following their disappointing loss to St. Joseph’s, there seems to be only one scenario how the Peterite team can win this year’s title.
A bonus point win against Royal will see them surpass Royal’s points (41+6) but their success story will depend on the outcome of the St. Joseph’s v Isipathana game.
Provided that St. Joseph’s don’t end up on the winning side against Isipathana, the Peterites’ will have their hand on the trophy.
View St. Peter’s College’s performance this season on ThePapare Stats Centre
If St. Joseph’s lose and St. Peter’s and Royal earn equal points (either if St. Joseph’s win without a bonus point and Royal do not earn a bonus point where the points will equal at 46. Else for St. Joseph’s to win with a bonus point and Royal also wins with a losing bonus point, in which case it will be a stalemate at 47), the league title will still go in favour of the Peterites.
With an exciting week to come, the assumptions made are purely based on the current points table and the league structure. Two crucial games that directly affect the title will take place at Havelock Park and at the Royal Complex this weekend.
While Isiapthana will be hosting second placed St. Joseph’s, Royal College will go head to head against St. Peter’s which will also be played for the B. C. Anghie trophy.
Keep it logged on to ThePapare.com as we will keep you updated on all of the developments in the Schools Rugby arena leading to the final showdown.
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