Joes spearheaded by Captain Romesh Priyankara (Cheeta) beat the more fancied Trinity College outfit in the fourth quarterfinal of the “Milo” under 18 ‘Fifteen a side’ rugby quarter final match played at Science College grounds yesterday.
Both teams started strongly but with the weather going from bad to worse both teams had a hard time handling the ball. Trinity College got a scrum off a knock-on from a Joes player and the boys from Kandy weaved their magic as full back E.M.A.B.B. Edirisinghe managed a marvellous cross kick and found winger G.B. Pethiyagoda at the end of the kick as the winger finished in the corner to end the first half with a 5point lead for Trinity College. E.M.A.B.B. Edirisinghe failed to covert.
Half time: Trinity 05-00 Joes.
The lads from Darley road did not let their heads drop as they began the second half with a bang as Captain and outside centre Romesh Priyankara (Cheeta) opened the score for Joes as he sliced through the Trinity defence like a hot knife through butter as he scored beside the upright to get the Josephians on the board. Sameesha Viranga converted successfully. Trinity 05-07 Joes
Joes continued to press on the Trinity defence and all their hard work paid off as the boys from Kandy were penalized for having hands in the ruck. Josephian place kicker Sameesha Viranga stepped up as the youngster slotted home from 45 meters out as Joes extended their lead further. Trinity 05-10 Joes.
Joes continued the good form but a sloppy knock-on from the Josephians handed the ball to the Trinity scrum half as he played the advantage to good effect and stepped his way through the Joes defence and set up lock forward H.M. Madena to score adjoining the left upright and as E.M.A.B.B. Edirisinghe managed to successfully knock over the conversion the boys from Kandy regained the lead in the game. Trinity 12-10 Joes.
With time being their enemy Joes upped the ante and it proved worth as Trinity were penalized yet again in their own half as Sameesha Viranga stepped up yet again to successfully slot over the penalty kick and regain the lead for Joes. Trinity 12-13 Joes.
After going one point behind on the score board Trinity began to spread the ball wide, but as the winger spilled the ball Josephain winger Vinul Fernando booted the ball twice before diving over the ball in goal to score the vital five pointer for Joes as they managed to beat Trinity 18points to 12 and recorded a major upset as Joes advanced to the semi-final of the “Milo” under 18 ‘Fifteen a side’ rugby tournament.
Full time: Joes 18 beat Trinity 12
