Peterites and Pathana look solid in week 1

By Shamseer Jaleel

St. Peter’s College and Isipathana College both looked the better sides at the end of week 1 in the Singer League Under 20 school rugby tournament which commenced last Friday. Petrites beat Kingswood College 37/17 in Colombo while Pathana was in a 10 try blitz over the Rajans at Havelock Park by a massive 78/15.

Nervous start for Trinity

Trinity-7 points

Wesley-5 points

Trinity got off to a shaky start in their own den in Pallekelle edging out Wesley, 7/5 in a tense battle full of ball handling errors by both teams. Wesley on their part played marginally well having territorial advantage through their speedy three quarters but poor ball handling let them down badly. Trinity opted to use their forwards playing minus their regular skipper second rower Rahul Karunathilake most part of the game. 

All scoring was done in the last 10 minutes of the game with both teams not opting to take easy penalty kicks within kicking range. Trinity missed one penalty and did not go for two attempts which could have got them points on the board while Wesley missed two of them and did not go for another two sitters in front of the posts opting for a try scoring opportunity in the last 10 minutes of play. 

Wesley skipper Zayan stood out for the Colombo outfit while Trinity full back Shanushka Abeywickrema and winger Geshan Pethiyagoda were at lightning speed for the “Lions”. For Trinity try was scored by hooker Nathan Yee. For Wesley, Avishka Lee scored the try.

Science outclass Antonians

Science-40 points

Antonians-28 points

Science College one of the strongest contenders for the Singer league led 25/10 at the short breather but the second half was dominated by the Katugastota lads. Science were forced with full of replacement with injuries to five of their players was costly for their side. They were defending most part of the second half due unexpected top class rugby dished out by the Antonians. 

Science will need to come on top if they are to topple the Peterites next week. Science tries were scored by Tharindu Maduranga, Nirosh Udayanga, Sanjula Rohan, Nishad Niranjan and Udesh Madushanka, with try conversions and penalty taken by Thanuja Maduranga and Nishad Niranjan. For the Antonians Mohamed Sabeer, Dinuk Amarasinghe and Ishara Liyanage with the conversions and penalty taken by Samuel Maduwantha.

Thora on a winning start

S. Thomas’-32 points

St. Joseph’s-3 points

Thomians who are enjoying one of their best season after winning the school sevens continued their good work by collecting their second trophy on offer by claiming Lady Jayathilake Memorial trophy by beating the Joes 32/3 in one way traffic at Longdon Place. This win came to the Mount Lavinia school after a lapse of three years. 

Thomians who had a close lead in the first half 5/3 ran riot scoring at will in the later half which produced running rugby. Mayun Jayawardene (2),  Naveen Henakankanamage (2) and Christian Delile scored for the Thomians with Ashwantha Herath putting over the penalty and conversions while for the Joes Chtathura Seneviratne put over the solitary penalty.

Royal outclass DS

Royal-36 points

DS-10 points

Defending Singer league champions started off their safekeeping of the Singer league with an easy 36/10 win over the minnows in schools rugby D.S. Senanayake College at Royal Sports Complex. Royal had a decent game after leading 17/3 at the shorts breather dominating proceedings. But Royal will need to come on top in the coming week to stay on top.

Theekshana guides Peterites

St Peter’s-35 points

Kingswood-18 points

Peterites keeping hopes high secured a moral boosting win over the Kingswoodians 35/18 at Bambalapitiya after leading 25/8 at the short breather. Second half was closely fought between the two teams scoring 10 points each. Peterite Theekshana was the star who crossed over the opponent line on 4 occasions. The Bambalapitiya school who had got their old boy Colin Dinesh as their Head Coach will need to concentrate on the full game. In the end they lost two players for “Yellow Card” offence.

Isipathana in 10 try blitz

Isipathana-61points

Dharmaraja-15 points

Isipathana College showed their intention very clear and sent out a warning to leading schools that they too are one of the top contenders for the league this year when they outclassed the Rajans outfit in a 10 try blitz at Havelock Park. At the short breather Nilfer Ibrahim’s boys led 37/3 and were unstoppable.