Last minute try by Wijeratne gives S. Thomas’ win over Kingswood
A last minute try by Thomian winger Danuja Wijeratne gave the home team a close 22-21 win over Kingswood in the Singer League Inter-School rugby game at Havelock Park yesterday. At the breather S. Thomas’ led 17-11. The Thomian points was made up of four tries and a conversion while the Kingswood points were made up of two tries, one conversion and three penalties.
The Thomians trailed 17-21 for a major part of the second half. It was the gritty tackling of the Randles Hill boys and the haphazard passing and dropping the ball at crucial moments that prevented the Thomians from scoring. Winger Reza Rafaideen converted a major portion of the points for Kingswood. His kicking was impeccable and his mid field play caught the eye at every given moment.Play started with Rafaideen putting over a penalty to give the Kandy lads a 3-0 lead.
The Thomians used their power in the loose enabling skipper and No.8 Hasitha Senanayake to score. Senal de Silva was correct with the conversion and the Mt. Lavinia lads led 7-3 at this stage. It was Rafaideen’s moment next when he put over a penalty and S. Thomas had a close 7-6 lead. Taking advantage of a lack in the Kingswood defence Kasun Jayasuriya scored and the Thomians increased their lead to 12-6. Taking advantage of a lull in the Kingswood defence S. Thomas’ scored an unconverted try through Jayasuriya. In the wake of this try Abdul Cader touched down for the Thomians to take a commanding lead at 17-6.
Fighting every inch of the way Kingswood scored next through Nirantha Manamendra. (STC 17; Kingswood 11 at lemons). Play resumed after the break with Rafaideen putting over an easy penalty to cut down the Thomian lead to 14-17. This was followed by a Rafaideen try and Kingswood took the lead at 21-17.
The Thomians put every effort in the dying moments to pull the embers out the fire and succeeded with Wijeratne’s try far right. Referee – D. Nimal
Earlier in the Under 16 game S. Thomas’ beat Kingswood 17-5.