The boys from Darley road were on song at CR & FC this evening registering their first win for the Singer Schools Rugby League 2017 defeating an unorganized Dharmaraja College outfit 44-10
Full time score: St. Joseph’s 44 (6T 4C 2P) Dharmaraja 10 (1T 1C 1P)
It was an exhausting 80 minutes of rugby with both teams committing clinical errors halting the progress of play at regular intervals. An encounter that was expected to be an even contest with both teams making it to their game win-less turned out to be a one-sided affair favouring the hosts St. Joseph’s.
It was Dharmaraja who drew first blood as Tharuka Galapitagedara kicked an easy penalty in the very first minute (3-0). The Josephian equalizer came ten minutes later as Chathura Seneviratne bisected the posts kicking a 45m penalty successfully (3-3).
The Josephians took their time to settle into the game and the first try came in with a brilliant set move anchored by Chathura Seneviratne allowing center Sameesha Viranga to pass the ball out to Naveen De Silva to score (10-3).
Galapitagedara’s second kick at the posts proved to be unsuccessful for Dharmaraja but Chathura Seneviratne continued his kicking streak to kick another three-pointer (13-3).
Clinical errors in ball handling and collection cost Dharmaraja the game as the Josephians opted to play a territorial kicking game. Their initiative worked as two tries came in quick succession with skipper Vinul Fernando and Swen Muller touching down.
Seneviratne converted one out of the two tries scored as St. Joseph’s went for the break leading 25-3.
Halftime: St. Joseph’s 25 (3T 2C 2P) to Dharmaraja 3 (1P)
The second half wasn’t too different to the first passage of play, but the first few minutes saw Dharmaraja denying the hosts of possible try-scoring opportunities.
It took Sachin Silva of St. Joseph’s a good 20 minutes to bring in the first try in the second half that was created by the clever thinking of Chathura Seneviratne. The try scored under the posts was however missed by Seneviratne (30-3).
The Rajans who were playing their first match away from home were struggling to get their momentum at Longdon Place but managed to seep in a try that came off an interception from the Joesphian wing-three-quarter.
Bawantha Udangamuwa mastered the interception and offloaded the ball to Binura Bandara who had a foot race to the try line. Gihan Deshapriya converted (30-10).
With less than ten minutes to go on the clock, speedster Gemunu Chethiya proved to be unstoppable ending up scoring twice in quick succession. Sachith Silva and Chathura Seneviratne converted each of the tries to call it full time.
Chathura Seneviratne had a good game with the boot together with his clever clearance kicks throughout the 80 minutes. Along with Gemunu Chethiya it was center Sameesha Viranga who was the stand out for the team creating two important try scoring opportunities.
St. Joseph’s should be pleased with themselves to taste victory for the first time in this year’s season and much is needed to be done if they need to survive in the cup championships.
Both teams struggled with ball possession and was a passive game with play interrupted with several stoppages and scrums.
Exemplary gesture by the two teams
It was a wonderful gesture showcased by the players of the two teams after the full-time whistle as they joined each other in camaraderie after what happened last season at Bogambora.
Full times score: St. Joseph’s College 44(25) 6T 4C 2P defeat Dharmaraja College 10 (3) 1T 1C 1P
ThePapare Player of the Match: Gemunu Chethiya (SJC)
Points breakdown:
St. Joseph’s College
Tries by Gemunu Chethiya (2), Vinul Fernando, Sven Muller, Sachin Silva, Sameesha Viranga
Penalties (2) and Conversions (3) by Chathura Seneviratne
Conversion (1) by Sachith SilvaDharmaraja College
Try by Binura Bandara.
Conversion by Gihan Deshapriya.
Penalty by Tharuka Galapitagedara