Brilliant Petes rally to beat Green Machine
Thenuka Nanayakkara landed a crucial try in the second half to help St. Peter's seal the game - Pic by Ishanka Sunimal
With a lot riding on the line for St. Peter’s College, they were able to hold their act together and triumph 27-21 over Isipathana College at their home ground in Bambalapitiya yesterday. The win kept St. Peter’s alive for the title race along with Royal College and St. Joseph’s College.
St. Peter’s scored three goals and two penalties while Isipathana managed three goals, having missed one penalty kick.
Peterite full-back Thenuka Nanayakkara opened the scoring in the second minute with a penalty. But Isipathana responded immediately with a try scored by Manula Rathnayaka which Manilka Ruberu converted.
The first-halfsaw some good runs from both teams and it kept the game’s tempo up. Nanayakkara scored a 40-metre penalty for Peter’s to shorten Pathana’s lead to one point.
However, a deft tryfrom Praveen Stefan which came off a turnover and a long pass from Ruberu increased the lead for the Greens.
In a back and forth scoring spree, Peterite wing-three-quarter Ishan Fernando dashed down the far end to score a brilliant try which had an equally brilliant conversion from Nanayakkara from the far end of the 40-metre mark.
Nanayakkara increased his points by scoring a brilliant try after he joined the ruck and powered through the Pathana defence. He converted it from the far end of the 22.
In a surprising move the Green Machine used St. Peter’s coach SarathMartis’ signature move— the rolling maul, where all except two players joined the maul and pushed through and it was Ruberu who touched down. Ruberu converted this to set the half-time score at 21-20 with Pathana in the lead.
The second half was paler in comparison to the first, and sloppy handling from both teams, especially Isipathana, cut many scoring opportunities short.
The smaller stature of the Pathana players made them tire fast. Basic ball handling was abysmal too and this has been a recurring curse for the Greens in the second half throughout the season. Isipathana’s tactical changes and strategy to rebound after being set on the back-foot have also been a reason of concern that needs looking into for them next season.
A solitary goal scored for St. Peter’s in the second half by Nanayakkara (his second) set the final score at 27-21 and gave the home team an important win. They will face their rivals St. Joseph’s next week in the Fr. Basil Wiratunga Trophy clash in what could be a title decider.
Match Referee- Dinka Peiris.