The Singer League 2014 Schools Under 20 Rugby Tournament was worked off over the weekend with St Peters College outclassing S Thomas College while Royal College secured a narrow win over St Joseph College.
There were also wins for Kingswood, St’Anthony’s and Wesley College. Defending Champions Dharmaraja and D.S.Senanayake College suffered their third straight defeat and almost certain to be demoted to the plate competition.
(04/04/2014)
On Friday St Anthony’s recorded their first win of the season with a run-away win over defending champions Dharmaraja College by 39 points consist of (5 Tries, 1 Conversion & 4 Penalties) to 16 of (1 Try, 1 Conversion & 1 Penalty) after leading 10 to 06 points at half time in a match played at the Bogambara grounds. It was a much needed win for the Eagles who were fighting to stay in the cup competition. The game started off with overcast conditions as Dharmaraja took first lease of scoring the points through a penalty by the boot off Weerasekara but the Eagles replied through immediately with a penalty put over by Dilan Jayatissa and the scores were deadlock at 3 all. The eagles scored their first try late in the half when Dushyath side-stepped to score while Jayatissa put over the conversion to take their lead to 10 points to 03. Just before half time Dharmaraja reduced the deficit when Weerasekara put over his second penalty as the Eagles took a slender 10 points to 06 half time lead. The Eagles then opened up in the second half and pulled away from their opponents as they added a further four tries while the losers could manage only a penalty and a converted try. For the defending champions it was their third defeat in the league and could find themselves demoted to the plate competition in round two. For the Eagles they stay to fight another day in the cup competition
(05/04/2014)
On Saturday there were two matches scheduled one in Colombo and one up in Kandy with the best game coming down at Longdon Place where Royal College once again held their nerve to recorded a close win over St’Joseph College by 14 points consist of (1 Try & 3 Penalties) to 11 of (1 Try & 2 Penalties) after leading 11 points to 05 at the short whistle. It was another close call for Royal College as the rains came down heavily in the second half. It was St’Joseph who broke the deadlock through a solo try scored by Shamilka Kurumbalapitiya which went unconverted. Royal equalized through a try scored by Supun Warnakulasuriya and further two penalties by Nimshan Jayawardene extended Royal lead which stood at 11 to 05 at half time. Two penalties by Shamilka Kurumbalapitiya levelled the scores at 11 points each with about 15 minutes of play remaining. But it was Royal place- kicker of Nimshan Jayawardene with his third penalty of the match who saved the day for the Royalist.
Up in Kandy Kingswood College made their clear intention of this year title with powerful display to overwhelm Science College by 29 points consist of (4 Tries, 3 Conversions & 1 Penalty) to 10 of (1Try, 1 Conversion & 1 Penalty) after the Kings lead 14 to 00 at the short whistle at a match played at Bogambara grounds. The Kings scored two tries through Sally and their forwards off a rolling maul for their place- kicker Asela to convert both tries as the Kings lead 14 to 00 at halftime. However when the second half got under way Science College staged a comeback scoring 10 points in quick time through a try by a brutal Karunatileka while Wijesooriya converted the try and put over a penalty to reduce the deficit. That was all the boys from Mount Lavinia could manage as the Kings took the game beyond them by scoring a further 15 points without conceding any walking away with a 29 points to 10 victory.
(07/04/2014)
Wesley College got off to their first win of the season by beating D.S.Senanayake College by 42 points consist of (8 Tries & 1 Conversion) to 10 of (2 Tries) after leading 27 to 00 at half time at Longdon Place. It was another heavy defeat for the DSS and their third straight in all. The double blues got off the mark through a try by K.Samaratunge and added further four more tries during the first half. The other try scorers were Lasindu Prasad, Mithila Perera, K.Samaratunga his second, and Ishara Madushan. Wesley College continued their dominance in the second half and added a further three more tries while the losers succeeded in scoring two tries. The win keeps Wesley College chances alive in the cup competition and they will need to beat both Trinity and Isipathana in their remaining two matches, if they are to stay in the top four at the end of round one. For DSS they will be demoted to the plate competition in round two.
(10/04/2014)
On Thursday a close tussle was expected but proving beyond doubt for their superiority St Peters College outclassed S’Thomas College by a massive 44 points consist of (7 Tries, 3 Conversions & 1 Penalty) to 12 of (2 Tries & 1 Conversion) after the Peterites lead 20 points to 05 at the short whistle at the Havelock grounds.
The Thomians could not take advantage having a heavier pack as the Peterites dominated play after considering an early try which was scored by the Thomian Kasun Jayasuriya after a scrum close to the Peterite line which went unconverted. It was only that moment of glory the Thomians could manage as the Peterites took charge and ran amok penetrating the Thomians defense with ease with full back Diyath Fernando crossing the line twice while centre Kevin Dixon crossed on one occasion with fly half Shamri Burah converting one of the tries and putting over a penalty as Peters lead 20 points to 05 at half time.
On the resumption of play, the Thomians could not capitalize with a man extra as the Peterites played with 14 men most of the second half after their captain Senal Aponsu and Prop Uditha Anjani were sin binned. It was the Peterites who opened scoring through their flanker Nishon Perera and the conversion successfully put over by Shamri Burah as the Peterites extended their lead 27 to 05.
However the Thomians got a consolation try as their winger Naveen Henakankanamage scored while Hans Walpola converted to reduce the deficit. Further tries by Kevin Dixon (two) and Diyath Fernando (one) both getting hat tricks with the last try being converted as the Peterites retained the Archibald Perera Memorial Trophy for yet another year.
After the 3rd week Kingswood and St’Peters College remain unbeaten in Group A with both teams sharing the top spot in the latest points table while Trinity and Isipathana who meet on the 25th of this month remain unbeaten in Group B. The outcome of this match is most likely to settle for the top spot in their Group.
Singer Schools League 2014 Schools under 20 Division 1-A Rugby tournament Match Results for week 3
