The finals of the President’s Trophy Milo Knock outs were concluded yesterday at the Royal College Sports Complex.
What turned out to be a perplexing turn of events unfolded between the Singer schools rugby league runners up Trinity College and the ambitious table climbers Wesley College whom have had a stunning season since their promotion to the A division last year.
From the kick off the fate of the days proceedings seemed to sealed as Wesley college came in fiercely in to the competition with a display of picturesque running rugby which upset the rhythm of the lions from the early stages of the game. Whilst the Trinitians where scrambling frantically to gain the composure that they’ve flaunted during the schools league.
The Wesleyites drew first blood in the form of wrecking machine Gavin Seigertz who powered his way over the Trinitians goal line after what seemed like a dozen phases of ecstatic support play. However the conversion by captain De silva was sent astray. The Wesley forwards n particular had an exceptional of game being a thorn in the Trinitians side as they labored greatly to upset the lions set plays.
Trinity college got their first chance to tick the score sheets when Wesley conceded a penalty for an incorrect entrance in to a ruck situation which gave fly half Ratwatte his first shot at goal for the afternoon. The kick was sent sailing just underneath the goal post leaving the lions on the hunt for points.
Trinity college played a game of errors in the early stages of the match. With dropped passes at crucial moments which the Wesleyites were not shy to capitalize on to put the lions on the back foot as the double blue back division functioned at their all time best to harassed the vexed Trinitians with piercing runs and punts in to space which made room for their wing three quarters whom had an exceptional game in both attack and defence.
The Trinitian s received and injection of life as captain Wadood came blitzing in to the fray with one his signature breaks at the corner flag. However the determined Wesley defense was adamant to not let this defiance grow. And the Trinitians were seen making some conspicuous calls during the game as they were opted to go for scrums where going for touch was a safer and logical option. However criticism was reserved by the audiences as the expertise of the lions coaching staff has shown little during the season.
Trinity College managed to climb on to the score board when a relentless assault at the Wesley goal line resulted in a penalty that fly half Ratwatte as able send sailing through the up rights.
Trinity managed to score their first touchdown when Wesley eight man Seigertz lost possession of the ball inside their own twenty two meter line. Which resulted in a pick up and dash for the try line which put the lions back in the game and Ratwatte made no mistake with the conversion.
Wesley replied with cold resent as they showed no hesitation to apprehend every inch conceded by the Trinitians as they desperately fought to contain ti he Wesley backs who were running amock. After a grueling siege against a now steadying Trinity defense Wesley captain Desilva makes the most of a penalty conceded by the lions to add the “three” to the points table.
The dying moments of the first half saw an aggressive rejuvenation of the lions, whom were determined to breach the Wesley barricade. Followed by a cheeky drop goal executed by Ratwatte to bring his team on to solid footing.
HALF TIME 13-8 in favor of Trinity
Both teams came out to empty their sleeves at each other in the second half of this crucial final where the coveted Milo trophy hung in the balance.
The Double blues made no mistake in making their intension clear as they came at the lions which no less a fervor than they had shown at the beginning of the encounter. After a dozen laborious phases carried out with surgical precision and almost psychic support play young center Ishaap Jurangpathy managed to touch down for his team. Desilva effortlessly put the conversion through.
A game of errors turned to the Comedy of errors to horror of the Trinity supporters as a poorly judged high ball resulted in Wesley hooker Maduwantha scoring under the posts. Making a the conversion a piece of cake for De silva who had been having a breeze of a day.
It was not long after that when outside center joel scored in the corner adding the finish to a well-orchestrated string of broken play. The conversion was put astray by De silva however it was evident that a shadow of doubt had begun to loom about the trinity players as their heightened spirits seemed to take its leave and the lions no longer roared.
Trinity fly half Ratwatte made a valiant attempt to re birth his teams fighting spirit by putting over a penalty which was conceded by the blues by handling in the rucks.
However the last nail was driven in to the lions coffin when Wesley’s Rajakaruna danced through the Trinity blockade unchallenged to seal the fates of the two teams .
Despite a desperate attempt to rescue the lions honor in the form of a last moment try the “zum zum zakey” was heard over the once roaring lions.
With this epic thriller so ends the pandemonium of the 2013 schools rugby saga which saw the bold ambition of the last years B division up comers (rajans and Wesley) securing the most coveted titles in schools rugby. And also history made by the likes of Wesley college as they lay hands upon the milo knock-outs trophy for the first time ever since their appearance in unsuccessful finals in 2002 and 2004.
FULL TIME Wesley 34 – Trinity 21
