Dubai: Trinity College, Kandy regained the Roger Rodrigo Challenge Cup emerging champions at the 13th Lanka Lions Inter-School Tag Rugby Sevens Tournament held at the Sharjah Wanderers Club ground last week.
The Trinity Lions romped to a 35-0 whitewash of St. Peter’s scoring five unanswered tries in a lopsided Cup final to clinch the coveted title for a record fifth time. This annual competition is one of the most looked forward to events in the sporting calendar for Lankan expatriates resident in the UAE as old boys of top rugby playing schools battle for glory.
Organised by Lanka Lions Sports Club the tournament attracted 20 teams, including UAE Schools, vying for a trophy named after former Sri Lanka and Arabian Gulf scrum half, Roger Rodrigo.
The Trinity Lions dethroned the kings of Sevens rugby in Sri Lanka Isipatana with a superb come-from-behind 14-7 win in the semi-finals ending their two-year unbeaten run in the UAE tournament.
Last year’s player of the tournament Chinthaka Pradeep drew first blood to give Isipathana a 7-0 at the break. However, Trinity tightened their defence and rebounded in the second half to avoid a repeat of their agonising defeat in last year’s semi-final to the same opposition last year.
St. Peter’s won the second semi-final against Zahira 21-0 to advance to the final but were no match to the rampaging Lions who last won the title in 2014.
Trinity skipper Dilshan Kelaniyangoda, later adjudged ‘Player of the Tournament’, Adil Deen, Lanka Lions stalwart Hilmy ‘Bebo’ Mohammad, Stephan Nelukshan and Anuka Boyagoda, crossed the line for the winners. The champion Trinity side also comprised Lanka Lions veteran Azarath Deen and his son Adil, 19, who plays for Dubai Exiles, Sugath Laxman and Shiham Wadood.
Trinity made their intentions clear with impressive wins over St. Benedicts ‘A’ 77-0, St, Josephs 49-7, Zahira 21-5 and Ananda 35-7 in the group stages. “We trained hard for the last two or three months. The boys were committed and determined. Our fitness was the key to success,” said Azarath Deen, a former Trinity and CH and FC centre.
Trinity were denied a double by Wesley who won the Plate final 14-7. Dharmaraja College, Kandy clinched the Bowl defeating Royal College, while St. Anthony’s College, Katugastota claimed the Spoon.
The tournament was sponsored by Ice watch, Sri Lankan Airlines, Groove Zone Worldwide and Suren Agencies.
Four senior referees Dilroy Fernando, D Nimal, Gamini Piyatissa and Irshad Mohammad were flown from Sri Lanka especially for this tournament.
