Trinity prevailed but Petes fought
Trinity College did their chances of winning the Singer Schools Under-20 League Championship no harm at all as they played to potential in scoring a 29 points (3 goals, 1 try, 1 penalty) to 22 (2 goals, 1 try, 1 penalty) win over a fighting St. Peter’s College outfit at Pallekelle yesterday.
After yesterday’s win against St. Peter’s, Trinity’s hopes of clinching the Singer Schools Under-20 Cup Championship will rely on the outcome of today’s game between Isipathana and Kingswood. - Pic by Shane Seneviratne
Trinity set the pace by scoring in the opening minutes when winger Dinuk Ratwatte finished a back division move by running round the last defender (5-0).
Fly half Shamry Burah touched down from the left upright off a second phase move to equal the score. Both kickers were off target with some penalty conversions thereafter.
There followed a loose pass from a lineout won by the Peterites. Burah, on the goal line, slipped in the act of passing. The ensuing scrum sans a break from the daring No.8 Isuru Rangala who touched down unchallenged by a defence that had gone to sleep. Ratwatte converted for Trinity to take lemons at 12-5.
The Peterites gifted a try to skipper Tharinda Ratwatte when his opposite number Kevin Dixon could not control the pass he received and the ball ran loose for the Trinity skipper to score and convert. A simple penalty was put over by Burah but, almost at once, Trinity converted a penalty given for a collar tackle (22-8).
The second half became a highly exciting one as the Peterites started to storm back and control play. Dixon, the Peterite skipper who had a wonderful match, weaved his way through the Trinity defence brushing aside some half-hearted tackles and touched down for a converted try (22-15).
The Peterites stepped up the tempo and attacked with fierce determination. Their efforts were rewarded when fly half Burah crashed through a back-paddling defence to touch down. The conversion, a difficult, angular one, was somehow arrowed through the uprights. The scores had been tied.
A little later, with the minutes ticking by, burly Anuruddha Karunatilleke brooked no stopping as he collected from close range and powered through. Ratwatte’s conversion meant the Lions were home and dry. The Trinitians now have an agonizing 24-hour wait to see the outcome of the Isipathana-Kingswood match. If Kingswood wins, the Lions will roar. If it is the other way round, the Lions will slink away to their lair.
In retrospect, Trinity could have scored another try or two if they had spread the ball wide in close to the line situations. Ratwatte did not do a lot of running but instead master-minded the Trinity attacks. Peterite skipper Dixon was a joy to behold as he ran with the ball and probed for chinks in the Trinity defence.
Referee – Priyantha Gunaratne