Taking up captaincy duties and returning in the Peterite jersey, Marc Assau was a stand out for the side and also scored a valuable try
St. Peter’s college defeated Dharmaraja College comprehensively 42 (6T,6C) points to 05 (1T) in the Schools’ Rugby League encounter worked off at Police Park earlier this evening. Powerful Peterite center Sandesh De Mel scored a hat-trick of tries to help his team secure their 3rd victory of the season.
It was hot and humid at Police Park and Bawantha Udangamuwa kick started the proceedings. The Rajans were on top in the first five minutes of the game but couldn’t capitalize on the mistakes made by the Petes. St. Peter’s took some time to settle down but the bulky forwards got their act together soon enough as they attacked patiently with a few phases to the left and a few to the right. Finally, nippy scrumhalf Jason Karunarathne opted to use his backs as the playmaker Dilshan Madushanka found the white wash to open the scoring. Shehan Liyanapathirana bisected the uprights. (SPC 07 – 00 DRCK)
A few minutes later Rajans suffered a big blow as their winger Kasun Karunarathne was sin binned for tackling Shehan Liyanapathirana in the air. The Petes utilized the numerical advantage perfectly as they opted to play the territorial game. Petes received a centre scrum in the Rajans red zone and the No 08 Bilal Hilmy made an unstoppable break from the scrum and doubled the lead for the Bamba brigade. Liyanapathirana added the extras. (SPC 14 – 00 DRCK)
St. Peter’s College v Dharmaraja College | ThePapare Stats Centre
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St. Peter’s had the urgency to increase the tempo and wanted to score more points as basic tactic of draw-pass was displayed when the tall centre Sandesh De Mel went over for the third try. A few minutes late the Peterite backs again used their quick hands to spread the ball wide to the skipper Marc Assauw and he stepped in from the corner and he made slick offload to De Mel as he powered himself over to score his second and the bonus point try for the Petes. Liyanapathirana managed to convert both kicks from an identical angle. (SPC 28 – 00 DRCK)
Petes had the opportunity to score at the brink of half time but a knock on near the try line prevented them from increasing the lead as Referee Weranga blew the Half time whistle.
Half Time: St. Peter’s College 28 (4T, 4C) – 00 Dharmaraja College
The Peterites carried their domination to the second half as their forwards continued their good work in the breakdowns and in the scrums. Scrum half Karunarathne used his forwards for longer phases in the game and when he gave the ball to the backs they didn’t disappoint him as De Mel overpowered three Rajans defenders to score his hat-trick. Liyanapathirana was on song as he added another two points to the points tally. In the build up to the try Rajans Fullback Vishara Ranaweerasinghe made a dangerous high tackle and was sinbinned for ten minutes. (SPC 35 – 00 DRCK)
Tries kept coming for the boys from Bamba as they capitalized on a Rajans’ knock on. A grubber kick was sent through and Peterite lock Nizran Nillar collected it and went over for the 6th try of the game. Liyanapathirana kicked his sixth successful conversion. (SPC 42– 00 DRCK)
Rajans lost another player for ten minutes as another dangerous high tackle from the replacement prop forward Harsha Rodrigo was punished.
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Coach Sanath Martis made a few changes and gave the seniors a rest in the last fifteen minutes and the Rajans finally played to their potential as they threatened the Petes’ defense. Finally, Rajans scored a consolation try when the scrum half Supun Wijesiri took a quick tap and went over as the Peterite defense was caught napping. Kanchana Weerasekara missed the conversion and the game ended giving the Petes another resounding victory.
Full Time: St. Peter’s College 42 (6T, 6C) – 05 (1T) Dharmaraja College
ThePapare.com’s Player of the match – Sandesh De Mel (St. Peter’s College)
Match referee – H P Weranga
Breakdown
St. Peter’s College: Tries from Dilshan Madushanka, Bilal Hilmy, Sandesh De Mel (3) & Nizran Nillar Conversions by Shehan. Liyanapathirana (6)
Dharmaraja College: Try from Supun Wijesiri
Send offs: (Yellow) Kasun Karunarathne, Vishara Ranaweerasinghe & Harsha Rodrigo
