| Sports |
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Josephian late rally too much for Mahanama |
| By Umhar Samsudeen |
Despite the stiff challenge by Mahanama College in the second half St. Joseph’s College managed to put up a performance to edge out their opponents by 21points (3 tries and 2 penalties) to 13 (2 tries and 1 penalty) in the inter schools Division 1A rugby encounter at Longden place yesterday.
Both teams failed to take the lead in the first half when they missed out on a penalty opportunity each but displayed much improved rugby in the second half after the score being deadlocked at nil all at the breather.
The resumption saw Mahanama drew first blood in the third minute through winger Chathura Shanuka who managed to outrun the Josephian defenders to score in the left corner. Mahesh Kumaranayake failed to add the extra points. Four minutes later the Josephians opened their scoring with a try scored by prop forward Malintha Soyza who also missed the conversion to which made the scores read 5 all. The 11th minute of the second half saw referee Dinka Peiris penalizing the Josephian line for being offside to award a penalty to the Mahanama 30 meters in front of the posts where Mahesh Kumaranayake made no mistake this time to give them the lead at 8-5.
The lead was short lived when Josephian winger Mayura Sanjeewa booted over a penalty three minutes later to put the scores level on 8 points a piece.
It was no looking back for the Josephians when they scored two unconverted tries within a span of six minutes to take the lead 18-8. In the 26th minute of the game the Mahanama reduced the lead by a try when flanker Yasheera Rangana joined the line to create an overlap and score close to the left corner flag which made the scoreboard read 18-13. Prop forward Malintha Soysa put the issue beyond doubt when he booted over a 40 metre penalty offered two minutes before the final whistle |
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