Trinity College, Kandy succeeded to put an end to the Science curse by beating them 18- 11 in today’s Singer Schools Rugby Encounter played at the Science College home grounds.
The home side coming into the game looked very dangerous carrying their first win of the season against Royal College Colombo which they struck last week at Reid Avenue. However due to the infringement of a red card during this game they were minus the service of their kicker Prince. On the other hand the Trinitians who managed to tie the game against Dharmarajah last week needed this win badly to put an end to the curse on Mount Lavinia soil.
The game got on to a solid start with both teams displaying some super skills of rugby on the field. Both the sides were at each other, making big hits and some daunting runs along the lines .The first fifteen minutes went super-fast as each team was playing according to their game plan trying to score the first points of the game. However this year the Kandy lads managed to draw first blood through their reliable place kicker Tarindra Ratwatte who put a 65 metre kick right into the Science 22 metre territory, which resulted in an easy penalty conversion for the visitors.
Science players after being a bit affected by this unexpected penalty went on to make silly mistakes in their own 22. This once again resulted in another quick try by the visitors with the help of winger M. S Jasmin who went over the try line to put more pressure onto the home side. Tarindra failed to convert this time.
At half time the score was 8-0 in favour of the visitors- TCK.
With the start of the second half Science players were once again struck with another unexpected try from the Trinitians. This time also the main reason being playing inside their own 22. There were numerous occasions where they could have got out of their territory easily with a clearance kick but instead they decided to run the ball which went onto create more turmoil for them. Center L. Girinigama creeping through the Science defence went over the touch line for their second consecutive try for the game, taking the scores to 15-0 in favour of Trinity. Tarindra was spot on this time with the conversion.
Just minutes later Chathura Silva was awarded with a penalty which he managed to convert into points easily. This move somewhat brought back some momentum into the home side’s game of play which resulted in some aggressive playing and good clearance. The aggressiveness got out of hand when the “Little Dynamo”, Halique Wadood was caught in a dangerous high tackle by Science lock- K. W. I Viraj.
Chathura once again managed to put another penalty conversion with the heat of the game rising by the second making everybody tensed. Home team skipper Richard Dharmapala was well marked by the visitors as he was made very limited of his capabilities by the Trinitians solid defense.
During the final stages of the match the gutty Science players tried all their available options to come into the game to score some points to make things a bit more even. Their hard work was paid off when wing three G. H. K Sandaruwan managing to go over the try line scoring the last try of the game.
Special mention should be made of fly half Ratwatte and props Samarasekera, Sakalasuirya who put an immense effort into the victory for the visitors. For the home side Costa and Chathura were the only shining lights for this game. The home side will have to look to avoiding mistakes in their own 22 and they will have to make sure that their three quarters would run straight, giving room for their wing threes to use more ground. The Trinitians will be relieved to get back into their winning ways as they manage to secure their first win of the season in this league.
Full Time scores read as 18- 11 in favour of TCK.
