Joes end season in style with maiden Sevens title

St. Joseph’s College beat Royal College 21-12 in the cup final of the All Island Schools Rugby Sevens tournament, winning the tournament for the first time in their rugby history.

Richmond College were crowned Shield champions, Kingswood College Bowl champions while Vidyartha College stunned S. Thomas’ College to take the Plate championship.

Following two grueling days of rugby, favorites Royal took on unbeaten St. Joseph’s in the much anticipated cup final.

Rashane Goonawardena kicked off proceedings as Royal, playing at the complex, scored early through Thulaib Hassan to get the upper hand in the opening exchanges as the Josephians were reduced a man.

An evenly balanced first half only got better as speedster, Imesh Dissanayake weaved his way through the heart of the Royal defense to score. Rashane Goonawardena converted from under the sticks as the Josephians took the lead for the first time in the game.

Keshan Kavinda put on the afterburners, beating the Royal defense on the edge, extending the Josephian lead with their second converted try minutes after Royal were denied a try off a forward pass.

Dulanjana Piyatissa was sent to the bin at the beginning of the second, as Janidu Dilshan scored first in the second half, as Royal seemed to take the upper hand early on, in similar fashion to the first half.

Thulaib Hassan was the next to see yellow for playing a man in the air as both teams were reduced to six.

Royal toiled to no avail as the Josephian defense, drifted from left to right, holding firm as the lads from Reid Avenue looked in trouble for the first time throughout this tournament.

The two point lead was extended through Imesh Dissanayake who scored the match winner as Royal were on the verge of tasting defeat for the first time this season.

With less than a minute left, Tharindu Maduranga faced a brain freeze moment as he tip-tackled a Royalist after a pass, leaving the referee with no option but red!

Having being permanently reduced to six, and thirty second remaining, Royal took off on one final attack, however, the Josephain star of the season, Gemunu Chethiya, jackalled over the ball, winning the penalty to seal the game for St. Joseph’s and with it their first ever all Island Under-19 School sevens’ title.

Full time: St. Joseph’s College 21 beat Royal College 12

The Plate final saw Vidyartha College stun defending champions S. Thomas’ as the lads from Kandy made it two titles for Kandy with a 28-00 win.

Kingswood College convincingly defeated Thurstan College 31-00 to secure the Bowl championship moments after Richmond College got the better out of Piliyandala Central by 21-19 in a closely contested final for the Shield championship.

Early on in the day, St. Joseph’s defeated Science College and St. Anthony’s in the quarter and semi final respectively to make their way into the final while Royal were made to work by both Vidyartha and Isipathana, however, getting the better out of both teams to make their way into the cup final.

Day 2 Scores: