St. Joseph College managed to hold out a Thurstan scare to record a thrilling 22 (4T 1C) – 24 (4T 2C) win in the Dialog Schools Rugby League, laying one hand on the Plate championship.
The visitors kicked off the game without their pivotal playmaker Bryan as Nisith Aswella has big boots to fill.
It was the hosts who scored first through winger Akeesha Pushpakumara as favourites St. Joseph’s were shell-shocked. Amidu Rajapakse failed with the extras. (TC 05-00 SJC)
The visitors struck back straight away through skipper Inosh Silva. Adriyano Candappa added the extras as the visitors took the lead for the first time in the game.
Thurstan Hooker Tharindu Senarathna scored a scintillating try from a back peel at maul which caught the Josephian defence at sixes and sevens, as Senarathna went over on the blindside untouched.
This try too went unconverted as the hosts took a slender 3-point lead into lemons.
Half Time: Thurstan College 10 (2T) lead St. Joseph’s College 07 (1T 1C)
The visitors began the second half this time with a try as Dion Fernando was sent through a sublime inside pass by Nisith, and the visitors regained the advantage as Adriyano added the extras. (TC 10-14 SJC)
Thurstan scored through their No 8. Rasanjana Nirmal as he came off the bench to add to the scoresheet. Pushpakumara added the extras as the lead changed hands yet again. (TC 17-14 SJC)
The visitors scored twice on the trot which broke the back of the home side, giving the Jospehians an edge going into the last 5-minutes of the game. First it was lock forward Sithanga Liyanage who crashed over from close range.
Minutes later, Sanul De Silva saw yellow from the home side, which helped the Josephian cause as they scored through winger Theekshana Jayasinghe. Adriyano failed with both conversions but the lead was a substantial one going into the last 8-minutes of the game. (TC 17-24 SJC)
With time running out on the hosts, they mounted one final attack and found Akeesha Pushpakumara scoring a worldie of a try, beating 5 would-be Josephian defenders to dot down in the far corner.
Rajapakse had the opportunity to draw level with his conversion; however, it was a-stray as the game drew to an end as the Josephians ran away with a 2-point win and with it, laying one hand on the Plate Championship of the Dialog Schools’ Rugby League.
It is not completely over for Thurstan as they still have a chance, but their fate is not in their own hands.
Full time: Thurstan College 22 (4T 1C) lost to St. Joseph’s College 24 (4T 2C)
- Swissteck Perfect Player of the Match: Sithanga Liyanage (SJC Lock Forward)
Points Breakdown:
Thurstan College: Akeesha Pushpakumara 2T 1C, Tharindu Senarathna 1T, Rasanjana Nirmal 1T,
St. Joseph’s College: Inosh Silva 1T, Dion Fernando 1T, Sithanga Liyanage 1T, Theekshana Jayasinghe 1T, Adriyano Candappa 2C
 - 24 (4T 2C) win in the Dialog Schools Rugby League, laying one hand on the Plate championship. ){kind=link}