Disappointed rugby faithfuls
The college songs were sung with a fair amount of gusto. The teams were lined up for the introduction which never took place.
All attention was on the external factor. The casus belli was the state of the ground. The markings had been obliterated and Referee Aquib Jamaldeen, quite rightly was not prepared to start the game in such a situation.
The rain had cleared by about 3.15 pm. The under 18 match was called off because of rain. And the home team was advised at that point that some steps should be taken to make play in the main game possible. Sadly nothing was done, save for a lone worker sprinkling some white substance on some of the lines.
The five yard and the ten yard lines on both sides were not clearly visible.
A little quick thinking and decision making could have helped save the situation. After all, there were three junior teams of the host school and their services- could have been obtained.
It was thoroughly disappointing for the teams on the rugby faithful who had turned upto witness what would have been a very good game of rugby.
Further disappointment at Pallekelle
Pallekele heaped further disappointment and hurt to the Thomians who had to endure a 24-34 defeat at the hands of Avishka Sheik’s Trinity team. This was the fourth loss for Christian de Lille’s team, and the second win for Trinity.
Having led 13-3 at the half, Trinity turned more aggressive in the second half to add 21 points. In all Trinity crossed the Thomian line five times and converted three of those. They also had two tries and a penalty. Akitha Sakalasuriya put over two tries and the penalty, while Sheik obliged once.
Amith Kulatunga, Mahadi Abdullah, Mohammed Ikram, Danidhu Herath and Lenox Calyanaratne touched down for the winners.
Number 8 Lashanna de Silva and scrum half Sakith Perera scored the tries for the losers. The Thomian tally of 24 was made up of 3 goals and a penalty.
Referee – Anura Shantha.