Trinity registered their second win this season and retained the Canon R. S. De Saram trophy
Trinity secured their second schools’ Rugby victory and also the Canon R.S. De Saram trophy for 2018 earlier this evening when they beat the Thomians 34-24 in a hard-fought encounter up in the hill capital stadium of Pallekele. At lemons the home team led 13-03 amidst a reasonable crowd who had turned up to support their teams.
The result means Trinity are now temporally in third place at the end of the Singer Schools Rugby League 2018, division 1A week four. Awishka Sheik who missed the previous game due to a jaw injury returned to strengthen the team. Coach Lote Raikebula had also moved the lethal center Naween Rajarathnam to the wing for the De Saram battle. S.Thomas’ on the other hand had hardly a change to the team that got beaten by the Royalists two weeks ago.
Photos: Trinity vs STC | Schools Rugby League 2018
Photos of Trinity vs STC | Schools Rugby League 2018 …….
Trinity kicked of proceedings in muddy conditions after the skies had opened by just before the start of play. They had the better of the early exchanges and held a 5-0 lead inside the first five minutes thanks to Mohommed Ikram who ran over the try line with a Thomian defender hanging on his jersey. Trinity who had kept possession within their forwards initially decided to spread the ball wide finding Ikram who was out of his original position of flanker, acting more as a second center receiver before he touched down. Awishka Shiek missed the left upright slightly drifting it to the right. (Trinity 5-0 S. Thomas)
However, Shiek rectified his mistake in the 10th minute of the game by slotting through a penalty which he had been awarded by a Thomian players’ offside infringement. (Trinity 8-0 S. Thomas)
S. Thomas’ soon camped inside their opponents’ 22 and reduced the deficit courtesy of a penalty of their own from Bimsara Eeriyagama in the 15th minute for a hands in the ruck offense. (Trinity 8-3 S. Thomas)
Trinity on the brink of the half time whistle extended their lead yet again courtesy of Danidu Herath. A feed to the scrum cleanly won and spread wide found Herath who ran a two on one overlap in the far corner, finally diving right of the left upright to touchdown. Shiek who had a slight angle missed his footing due to the wet conditions sending the conversion horribly right of the left upright. (Trinity 13-03 S. Thomas)
With some active, muddy hard work of the forwards of both teams the first half came to end with Trinity taking a ten-point lead into lemons.
Half Time; Trinity 13 (2T 1P) – 03 (1P) S. Thomas’
Both teams continued to attack during the second half with the same intensity they had in the first as well but superb defense and numerous unforced errors from both teams meant that neither side managed to add to their points tally during the first 10 minutes of the second half.
The Thomians came close to scoring on a couple of occasions during that period but poor decision-making cost them dearly. Eventually the Trinity defense gave away to Adeesha Handunpathriana who had been picking and driving from 22m mark towards the goal line. Bimsara Eeriyagama added the much needed extras to make it a 3-point game. (Trinity 13-10 S. Thomas)
Trinity hit back immediately through Mahadi Abdulla employing the same pick and drive tactics. Sanjeewa Chathuranga the Thomian full back spilled the restart handing Trinity the ball in their red zone for Abdulla to finally go over the line after some effort by his forwards. Sheik added the extras with ease. (Trinity 20-10 S. Thomas’)
Two minutes later, Shiek tore the Thomian defence open through a lovely cut out pass to Warren Weerakoon who ran into the open gap before finally offloading it to Amith Kulathunga running inside in support. Akitha Sakalasooriya added the extras with ease (Trinity 27- 10 S. Thomas’)
Lashanra De Silva cut back the deficit yet again to 10 points leading in to the last quarter of the game. Captain DeLile made a break and brought the Thomians forwards as he has done all season for them to pick and drive over the line yet again. Bimsara Eeriyagama converted from the flanks. (Trinity 27-17 S.Thomas)
In the final quarter of the game both teams added one more try to each to the score sheet with the similar pick and drives using the forwards as seen throughout the entire game leading upto the final quarter. Lenox Calyanarathne was first over the line to extend Trinity’s score to 34-17 and Induwara Weerasinghe added the consolation try for the Thomians on the brink of the long whistle of the referee. (Trinity 34-24 S.Thomas’)
Trinity will next face unbeaten high flying Royal on the 21st of April in the first leg of the Bradby Shield while the Thomians who have already been relegated to play the plate will take on St.Anthony’s as their remaining game.
Full Time; Trinity 34 (5T 3C 1P) – 24 (3T 3C 1P) S. Thomas
ThePapare.com Player of the Match – Lenox Calyanarathne
Points Breakdown
Trinity College – Mohommed Ikram (1T), Mahadi Abdulla (1T), Amith Kulathunga (1T), Lenox Calyanarathne (1T), Danidu Herath (1T), Awishka Sheik (1C 1P), Akitha Sakalasooriya (2C)
S.Thomas’ College – Adeesha Hadunpathriana (1T), Lashanra De Silva (1T), Induwara Weerasinghe (1T) and Bimsara Eeriyagama (3C 1P)
Yellow Card – Worren Weerakoon
