After losing to Science College in the 2nd half last week, St.Peter’s college came to this match as favorites to continue their winning streak in the league. There was a late kick off due to the heavy showers at Nittawela. After trailing 11-7 at the Lemons, the Peterites came strongly in the second half to snatch the victory from Antonians 21 points to 11.
Match was played for the Prestigious Rectors’ Trophy which was donated jointly by the Rugby Foundation of St. Peter’s and the Rugby wing of St. Anthony’s in honour of the past Rectors of the two schools. Namely Rev Fr. Joe Wickramasinghe who was Rector of St Peter’s from 1978 to 1994 and Fr. Aiden de Silva rector of St. Anthony’s from 1968 to 1974.
St.Anthony’s College had to step into the ground for this heavy clash without their skipper Pasidu Dulshan and Senior Prop forward Shenal Dias who were unable to recover from the injuries. St.Peters were eyeing a big win against Antonians to keep their Championship hopes alive. The match was scheduled to kick off at 4.15 p.m. But due to heavy rains at Nittawela , Referee Aruna Rankothge and the officials decided to delay the kick off concerning the safety of the players.
During the first few minutes of the game both teams were trying to break through the opposition with their forwards. Players were affected by the wet condition of the ground and lost many good opportunities to score.
St.Peters were launching heavy attacks to the Antonian defense from the onset, but it was the Antonians who reached first to the scoreboard with a Penalty kick, beautifully executed by the Fly half Samuel Maduwantha’s boot. (SACK 03- 00 – SPC)
Photo Album – St.Peter’s College vs St.Anthony’s College – Schools Rugby 2016
A few minutes later St. Peters were awarded a penalty near the 10 meter mark, but Fly Half Stephan Sivaraj failed to add points with the kick.
After several failed attempts to break Antonian defense, the Peterites managed to score the first try of the game with their prop forward Rahal Delpachithra. There was some brilliant play by the forwards as they scored that try with a solid rolling maul. Steffan Sivaraja made no mistake in the conversion to add extra 2 points (SACK-03 – 07- SPC)
After losing the lead St.Anthony’s responded well to the spirited St.Peter’s attack. St.Anthony’s were putting pressure on opposition’s defense for a while before scoring their team’s 1st try in the right corner with acting skipper Dinuk Amerasinghe barging through. The try came as a result of a few mistakes by the Petes guilty of holding-on closer to the Antonians try line. Samuel Maduwantha failed to add the extras. (SACK-08 – 07- SPC)
Just a few minutes before the half time, St.Anthony’s were awarded with another penalty by Referee Rankothge inside of the 22m mark. The Antonians opted for a kick at goal rather than attempting for a try. Samuel converted the penalty easily to extend his teams lead. (SACK-11 – 08- SPC)
Half Time (SACK-11 – 07- SPC)
We saw quite different St.Peters side after the half time break. They were pushing hard from the kick off to regain the lead. A few minutes into the second essay St.Peters were awarded a penalty 40 meters away but Stephan missed his 2nd penalty attempt in the game.
Minutes after missing the penalty, the Peterites were awarded another penalty and skipper Sandesh Jayawickrama stepped into the kicking boots of Stephan but even he didn’t quite have the legs and the accuracy to make the wide penalty count for the team.
Twenty minutes into the 2nd half, St.Peter’s scored a magnificent try with scrum half Avishka Heenpella after a wonderful display of short passes and offloads between the backs. Sandesh Jayawickrama added the extra 2 points with a timely conversion. (SACK-11 – 14- SPC).
The lads from Bambalapitiya were very strong and focused after that try to seal the game with another try. St.Anthony’s didn’t make it easier for themselves but in the dying minutes of the match, Stephan Sivaraja crossed the try line for their 3rd try of the game. Skipper Sandesh Jayawickrama made it through the uprights. (SACK-11 – 21- SPC)
Even though Antonians had a challenge with the ticking clock to change the outcome of the match, they played somewonderful rugby in the last few minutes attempting to break in for a try. But Peterites were not sloppy to give away another try for the lads from Katugastota.
Full Time – (SACK-11 – 21- SPC)
Referee – Aruna Rankothge
The Papare Player of the Match – Avishka Heenpella (St.Peter’s)
Scores Break down
St.Peters (3T,3C) 21
Tries – Avishka Heenpella, Steffan Sivaraja , Avishka Heenpella
Conversions – Sandesh Jayawickrama 2 , Steffan Sivaraja
St.Anthony’s (1T,2P) 11
Tries – Dinuk Amerasinghe
Penalties – Samuel Maduwantha 2
