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Pix by Priyantha Wickramarachchi
Singer League 2019
By Shamseer Jaleel
St. Peter’s College put up a giant killing performance when they got the better of the defending champions Royal College while Joes edged out Isipathana to remain as the only unbeaten side in the Singer League end of round one.
There were wins for Trinity, Kingswood, Wesley and Antonians in their last round one games.
Peterite forwards stood out and taught a good lesson how the rolling maul could be stopped. Royal in the end tried several attempts but the Bambalapitiya school had the answers for that. A few ball handling errors in the end by the Peterites allowed Royal to score their only try later in the second half.
Thenuka Nanayakkara drew first blood for the home team in the 16th minute of the game which was converted by Sandesh Perera. B.D. Perera scored their second try after the short breather while Kevin Samarasekera touched down for the Royalist.
The Peterites won the B.C. Anghie Trophy after several years lapse.
Referee Praneeth Weeranga
Joes made a superb second half rally not only to beat the Green Shirts 18/17 but also remained as the only unbeaten outfit in the Singer League round one.
Isipathana stood out in the earlier half scoring the entire points of 17 but lacked fitness in the later half where the Joes stood out and prevailed in the end. Chamath Kalhara’s try and Manilka Ruberu’s conversion put the home team in box seat at seven to nothing.
Ruberu penalty put the Green shirts to a 10 to nothing lead but every reliable kicker from Joes, Santhush Algama put over his first penalty to cut the deficit to seven points between the two teams.
Manula Ratnayake try and Ruberu penalty saw the lead and the game drifting away from Joes. On stroke of halftime, Santhush Algama put over this second penalty.
After the turnaround it was Joes all the way. Pavindu Ruberu scored for the visitors, surprisingly Santhush Algama missed an easy kick at goal. Another Shehan Eranda try took the Joes in to the lead as the home fans saw last year skipper Manilka Ruberu missing two kickable penalties which would have not only given them the win but also to remain unbeaten in the league.
Referee Rohan Fernando who did the second back-to-back Joes game officiated this encounter as well.
Wesley edged out the Thomians but could not knock them out of the Cup segment. Though the Thomians lost out 24/26 they will remain in the Cup due to their wins over Peter’s, Kingswood and Maliyadeva.
This win will put Wesley along with St Thomas, Royal and St. Peter’s in the second round Cup while Kingswood will need to play in the Plate once more this year as well.
St. Anthony’s scored their first win this season in their fifth match with a much-needed win over Zahira 27/21 at Maradana. This result will have no bearing as both teams will be pushed down to the Plate but the Katugastota school will carry vital points for their round two encounters.
Trinity ended their first round in grand style when they outclassed and outplayed the lads from Mount Lavinia by 50/20 in a high scoring and entertaining three-quarter game of rugby by both schools.
Harsha Samarasinghe who had a grand game for the Trinitians scored a hat trick of tries while Mecan Yashwanth, Geesapa Kulatunge, Amith Kulatunge, Thidas Thanthirege and Minindu Jayasundera crossed over the rest of the tries.
Conversions were taken by Minidu Jayasundera, Reshan Bandaranayake and Miranga Subasinghe all showing improvements in their kick at goal which was a major concern for the Trinitians this season. Science scored their tries through Dulaj Mapitage, Nishitha Vithanage and Tharush Silva with Hasaranga Akmeemana taking the kicks.
Gihan Yatawara officiating in his first game controlled the game very well.
Kingswood too dominated their last game with a 10-try blitz at Nittawela but this will not allow them to remain in the Cup segment for round two. They along with Maliyadeva will be in Plate for round two.
Kelum Sandaruwan another newcomer to the big league did well in officiating at this encounter.
Dharmaraja College edged out Vidyartha College by 22 points (threetries, two conversions, one penalty) to 20 points (three tries, one conversion, one penalty) at the Nittawela Rugby Stadium yesterday.
At the short breather, scores stood at 10 a-piece.
