St. Peter’s College displayed strength and superiority affecting a 48 points to 12 victory against Zahira College at Havelock Park, in their first game of the Singer Schools’ Rugby League 2018.
St. Peter’s College v Zahira College | ThePapare Stats Centre
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The game kicked off amidst cloudy conditions, and right from the start it was the Peterites who were in front. Scoring from their first attacking move, it was a fairytale season opener for the Bamba brigade in the first-half.
Julian Charles drew first blood for St. Peter’s in the 3rd minute, and there on, a rain of tries followed. The incapability of holding onto possession let down the visitors, giving St. Peter’s a chance to take the upper handand they did delightfully so.. (SPC 7-0 ZCC)
Three tries were scored in quick succession leaving the Zahirian lads hapless. Vishara Shehan touched down in the far corner, after pouncing on a loose ball and sending it out-wide. Shehan Liyanapathirana made a peach of a kick. Five minutes later, a repeat of the second try was seen in the right flank, as Jason Karunarathna went over the white wash scoring the Pete’s third try. Liyanapathirana missed the conversion, but added another five to his side in the 20th minute, when he sliced his way to go over the line. He failed to add the extras. (SPC 24-00 ZCC)
As the end of the first-half neared, the Zahirian defense was scattered all over the place. And although the boys from Maradana were showing promise in their attacks, they failed to execute completely. St Peter’s struck again twice before lemons. Lankesh Perera made a brilliant break and barged his way over the line in the 30th minute. Adding salt to the wounded Zahirian camp, Raveen Fernando scored at the stroke of half-time giving St. Peter’s a very comfortable cushion. The referee blew half-time as the conversion drifted away from the uprights. (HT: SPC led 34-00 ZCC)
As the second-half got underway, the Zahirian’s looked to be pumped up and ready to make a comeback. After a dominant first five minutes, skipper, Muammar Deen went onto score Zahira’s first try under the post giving the fans a pinch of hope. But all was lost, when the pacey centre, Raveen Fernando scored his hat-trick sealing the deal for St. Peter’s. (SPC 34-07 ZCC)
The poor backline defense of Zahira gave Fernando the opportunity to collect the ball after a kick that bounced in open space. He made a dash under the post in the 49th minute. Again, in the 60th minute Fernando out-burned the Zahirian winger to sprint his way over the whitewash. Liyanapathirana added the extras. (SPC 48-07 ZCC)
After sheer hard work, the consolation try for Zahira came in the last minute after the hooker Mohomed Nafees, made a powerful run over to the line. As Samsudeen’s kick went off target, the final whistle was blown, giving St. Peter’s a great start to the season. (FT: SPC won 48-12 ZCC)
Full Time : St. Peter’s College 48 (8T,4C) – 12 (2T,1C) Zahira College
ThePapare.com’s Player of the Match: Raveen Fernando (SPC)
Points Breakdown – SPC
Tries : Julian Charles,Shehan Liyanapathirana,Lankesh Perera, Jason Karunarathna,Vishara Shehan, Raveen Fernando (3)
Conversions: Shehan Liyanapathirana 4C
Points Breakdown – ZCC
Tries : Muammar Deen and Mohomed Nafees
Conversions: Minhaj Samsudeen 1C
