In a week 2 fixture of the Dialog Schools Rugby League, Trinity College hosted Vidyartha College at the Lions’ Den in Pallekele. A clinical performance from Trinity saw them thump their opponents to win the game 74-14.
As the heavens opened up, Trinity kicked the game off and were on point with the chase. They won the ball after a charge down and kept on rumbling until they won a penalty early on.
Shan Althaf got his team 3 points ahead with a successful kick at goal. (Trinity 03 – 00 Vidyartha)
Trinity got the first try of the game, when their forwards rumbled to suck in the Vidyartha defense before swinging the ball out wide to Winger Minuka Yaddehige. The corner flag conversion from Althaf was bang on, as Trinity took the early lead. (Trinity 10 – 00 Vidyartha)
It didn’t take too long for Trinity to get their 2nd. Some good tactical kicking from Trinity opened up a gap for Shan Althaf to run through. He dragged a number of defenders to dot it down. Althaf converted his own try to extend the lead. (Trinity 17 – 00 Vidyartha)
It was just a matter of time till Vidyartha found their footing. The skipper Praveen de Mel put in a well placed grubber and forced the mistake from Trinity, to charge down a kick and to go over for a try. Sadew Dilshara knocked over the kick to cut the deficit. (Trinity 17 – 07 Vidyartha)
Trinity got on the score sheet next. Forwards and backs combined well. From a five man line out, and a set move, Evin Jayasena made a half break before getting Abdul Malik in space. Althaf’s conversion went astray. (Trinity 22 – 07 Vidyartha)
Vidyartha threw in another jab a few minutes later. It was Kenula Wijethunga who dotted it down after a series of pick and goes. The kick was on spot as Vidyartha reduced the gap. (Trinity 22 – 14 Vidyartha)
The Trinitians were swift to respond right from the kick off. They took a scrum off of penalty, before working a well orchestrated back line move to get Center Kevin Weerakoon in for the try. Althaf hit his mark with the conversion to extend Trinity’s lead.
Half Time – Trinity College 29 (4T, 3C, 1P) – Vidyartha College 14 (2T, 2C)
It was Trinity who got off the blocks first in the 2nd half. A backline move which opened acres of space for the back three, saw Abdul Malik scoring a Try. Sadeesha Weerawansa came off the bench and took over the kicking duties and duly complied. (Trinity 36 – 14 Vidyartha)
Trinity got in once again through Minula Yaddehige. Quick, slick hands down the line, and a good cut out pass from Weerawansa got them the try. Weerawansa’s kick went astray. (Trinity 41 – 14 Vidyartha)
The one way traffic at Pallekele continued. Ammar Manzil got over the line for a well deserved try after a good offload from Shryan Satheeshkumar. The corner flag conversion was a piece of cake for Weerawansha as Trinity kept on piling the points. (Trinity 48 – 14 Vidyartha)
Vidyartha committed the error by putting in a waivered clearance kick. Manzil collected and got the pass out to Abdul Malik to get his hat-trick.
Weerawansha missed his lines with the kick. (Trinity 53 – 14 Vidyartha)
A wonderful backline move from the scrum got Trinity’s winger another try. Ammar Manzil got his second. Weerawansha’s kick was a beauty and he added the extras off the tee. (Trinity 60 – 14 Vidyartha)
Next it was the replacement scrum half Avishka Jayasekara’s turn. A cheeky quick tap and a dart right through the Vidyartha defense saw him go under the sticks. The extras were added. (Trinity 67 – 14 Vidyartha)
The final try from Trinity came from lock forward Vihanga Indusara. A well executed kick from Murad Raizan got Trinity to the correct part of the field. Indusara snatched the ball after Vidyartha knocked it on and he scored a try. Weerawansha got the 2 extras for his team.
It was a try fest up in the hills, with Trinity running away with the game against their hometown rivals Vidyartha.
Full Time – Trinity College 74 (11T, 8C, 1P) beat Vidyartha College 14 (2T, 2C)
- Swisstek Perfect Player of the Match – Nisith Kumarasinghe (Trinity)
Trinity College – Kevin Weerakoon 1T , Abdul Malik 3T, Minula Yaddehige 2T, Ammar Manzil 2T, Avishka Jayasekara 1T, Vihanga Indusara 1T, Shan Althaf 1T 3C 1P, Sadeesha Weerawansha 5C,
Vidyartha College – Kenula Wijethunga 1T, Praveen de Mel 1T. Sadew Dilshara 2C
