A comprehensive performance by Thurstan College ensured that they take home the Milo Premier Trophy as they defeated the improving Sri Sumangala College Kandy 52 points 07. At the half time break Thurstan College led 31 points to 35 after making it to the final after winning a close game 35 points to 31 against St. Benedict’s College while their opponents Sri Sumangala College Kandy had to face a tough semifinal against the Ananda College outfit as they booked the spot in the finals by winning it 38 points to 31. The Racecourse Stadium provided perfect weather conditions for fast open rugby and Thurstan College delivered a solid performance by running in 8 tries.
Thurstan College had the perfect start to the game when play-maker Tharindu Dharmadasa intercepted a pass from the Sumangala line and made valuable 40 meters before offloading the ball to Mohamed Sakaf to open the scoring while Dharmadasa added the extras. (TC 07 – 00 SSCK)
Thurstan College opened up the floodgates early in the game as they scored four quick tries within a span of 15 minutes.
Anjana Hettiarchchi bamboozled the Sumangala defense with his smooth side stepping and he dummied the last defender and went over. Then it was the turn for the Thurstan No 08 Mohamed Riskhan who made a powerful burst through the Sumangala Defense to find the white wash. (TC 19 – 00 SSCK)
Sumangala made the situation even worse when they tried to run from their own red zone and made a hospital pass to their winger while Kavishka Dilshan was on the right position to kick and chase to score near the right post. Mohamed Riskhan made a successful conversion to increase the lead. (TC 26 – 00 SSCK)
Thurstan ran riot just before the half time break when scrum half Chanaka Ranaweera collected the ball from the scrum near the 50 meter and made a superb run to score the 5th try of the game making a good 50-meter dash. While Sumangala managed to end the horrible first half with a consolation try from Sadepa Perera who found a rare gap in the Thurstan defense and scored under the post. Umesh Weerakoon made an easy kick to add the extras.
Half Time – Thurstan College 31 (5T,3C) – 07 (1T,1C) Sri Sumangala College Kandy
Thurstan College continued their superlative display in the second half too but the pace of the game dipped a tad too much as the Sumangala players made more handling errors with more stoppages coming into the fray. Sayuru Numeshika showed his speed as went past three Sumangala defenders to score under the post. Dharmadasa bisected the uprights and added more insult to the Sumangala side. (TC 38 – 07 SSCK)
Thurstan speedster Anjana Hettiarchchi scored his second try of the game as he broke the Sumangala Defense in to bits and pieces purely from his speed. Riskhan added the extras this time around. (TC 45 – 07 SSCK)
Thurstan College managed pass the half century mark in the dying stages of this final through Mahomed Sakaf as a long cut out pass from Mohamed Riskhan opened up tiring Sumangala defense to score the last try of the game. Riskhan added the extras to finish the game in style and thereby winning the Premier trophy and putting the curtain down for the fifteens format for the year 2018.
Full Time – Thurstan College 52 (8T,6C) – 07 (1T,1C) Sri Sumangala College Kandy
- ThePapare.com player of the Match: Mohamed Sakaf
Referee: Dinka Peiris
Score Breakdown
Thurstan College – Tries from Mohamed Sakaf (2), Anjana Hettiarchchi (2), Mohamed Riskhan, Kavishka Dilshan, Chanaka Ranaweera, Sayuru Numeshika.
Conversions by Tharindu Dharamadasa (3) and Mohamed Riskhan (3)
Sri Sumangala College Kandy – Try from Sadepa Perera
Conversion by Umesh Weerakoon
