The MILO All Island Schools knock - out tournament will get under way this Thursday ( 8th ) when last years winners St.Thomas,s College and runners - up Isipathana College clash in the first quarter final at the Royal College Sports Complex.Kick off is scheduled at 03.30pm. It would certainly be interesting to see how the two teams make their approach to this game considering the fact that both sides are facing injury problems as well as the time this match would be played. Looking into the two sides apart from the form the thomians can be considered favourites to win this game but they cannot take things lightly against an opposition in the caliber of Isipathana who have already beaten their opponents this season when they came all guns blazing in the first half ,running riot to score a thrilling 30-24 win, thus the thomians will be determined avenge that defeat while the pathanians will be hoping to prove that the win was no flash in the pan.
The thomians will rely heavily in their under performing seniors S.Muthuthantheri,R.Gunasekara A.perera and their stand out performers for them who are thier two centers Shaveen Kapuwatte,Anurudhdha Wilwara,and fullback cum v.cap namely jerome fernando who have been outstanding for them this season while for the pathanians they would rely heavily on their forwards in the ranks of T Siriwardana,Muqsith jaleel,Deshan subashana,Saajid shuaib,and dhanushka Sooriyarachilike as well as fly half Prasad Devinda and will also hope that scrum half M.rizwan who has been outstanding this season would be available for selection after suffering a horrendous jaw injury during the league.also both sides will rely on some of their freshers who have done a gallant job for their respective sides this season namely thomian Devin Jayasekara and pathanas Kumendra Darmadasa.another interesting factor would be the time frame as the match would be played at 2.30pm.the weather conditions would certainly play a critical role in deciding the outcome of the game.the pathanians will certainly have to put up a solid performance during the entire course specially in the 2nd half as the thominas have built up reputation for their stunning comebacks during this stage.The thomians who edge out the Greens 22-19 in last years final will be hoping for a repeat as in a knock tournament its the result that matters.while Pathana who have reached the final for the past 3 years will try to advance one game at a time and reach the final yet again for a record 17th time.Isiapthana last won this trophy in 2002 under Anuranga Walpola.
