A 70th minute penalty by B.N.P Mendis helps Prince of Wales’ win a game filed with mistakes and indiscipline rugby.
Following a stellar performance from the Prince of Wales boys in the last game they came in to this game with full of confidence. But a match filled with many unforced errors didn’t do any good to both teams confidence.
Prince of Wales’ team made most of the errors and conceded a whole host of penalties in the first half, but a sloppy Mahanama College team couldn’t capitalize on any of those errors.
With 20 minutes past in the first half and no team able to register a score on the board S.S.R Kodithuwakku chipped the ball when he saw acres of space in behind the Mahanama College defense but the kick had too much in it trickled over the dead line.
This little break and chip gave the Prince of Wales team much needed confidence and wing three quarter S.K.B Thennakoon broke down the right wing and set up J.D Weerapperuma to score the opening try of the game. G.N.J Fernando failed to convert.
(Prince of Wales’ 05-00 Mahanama )
After the restart Cambrians continued to concede more needless penalties and the patience of the referee ran out as he took out the first yellow card to Prince of Wales T.M.DN Fernando for a cynical penalty in their own 22 for not releasing the opposition player.
With a one man advantage Mahanama College set on their search for a try but they came in to the Prince of Wales 22 only to fail many times. Mahanama College was reduced to 14 men when A.M.R Attanayake was shown a yellow card for a high tackle. Prince of Wales took a Centre field scrum and their scrum half broke off on the blind side and set up M.U.P Jayadewa to score their second try. B.N.P Mendis converted as Prince of Wales’ extended their lead at the lemons.
Half time: Prince of Wales 12-00 Mahanama
A rejuvenated Mahanama College team came out to the field of play as they applied tons of pressure on the Prince of Wales’ defense. This worked as L.M Dawundage of Mahanama College crossed the try line to score their first try. T.C Rambukkanage missed the conversion
(Prince of Wales 12-05 Mahanama)
Prince of Wales’ crumbled under pressure they continued to be indiscipline and conceded penalty after penalty. B.N.P Mendis was penalized for a late tackle. Mahanama College capitalized from the penalty as they took a quick tap inside the Prince of Wales 22 and K.G.T Dakshitha of Mahanama College scored a valuable try. T.C Rambukkanage converted to level the game with 20 minutes to go.
(Prince of wales 12-12 Mahanama)
After the equaling score Mahanama College boy’s work rate dropped and they had to pay for it as their discipline let them down. A horrendous kick in Mahanama College own 22 by D.T.A Dasanayake, opened the way for Prince of Wales’ center M.V.P Fernando to go clean through only to be stopped by yet another dangerous high tackle in from of the upright. Prince of Wales B.N.P Mendis stepped up and kicks the ball over the black dot to give Prince of Wales the all-important lead with 10 minutes to go.
(Prince of Wales’ 15-12 mahanama)
With time being the crucial element Mahanama College tried hard to score but indiscipline let them down as Prince of Wales’ registered yet another win in the Plate Championship.
Full time: (Prince of Wales’ 15-12 mahanama)
Thepapare man of the match: B.N.P Mendis fullback
