Trinity College had a tough job at Pallekelle this evening as the Lions earned a hard fought win against arch-rivals St. Anthony’s College Katugastota in an encounter that concluded with the scores 32-23.
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St Anthony’s College champion warrior of the season Samuel Maduwatha waged a one-man war against Trinity who in the end came out on top. The Antonian outfit’s key architect Maduwantha claimed responsibility to almost 95% of the chances created and scored 80% of the total points that the team scored.
Trinity had the dream start that were yearning all season when their three-quarters worked the ball out to Diluksha Dange who scored at the far right in the second minute of play. Lashane Wijesuriya missed the conversion (5-0).
Trinity had momentum with them for the next ten minutes as their forward pack mauled a 5-meter lineout to the try line. Shalindra Alahakoon touched down for the Lions on the left side of the grounds but Wijesuriya missed out adding the extras.
The turnaround in the first half came with Maduwantha for the Eagles. Clearing his team off danger, the young fly-half came to the rescue on two occasions and drew first blood in the 15th minute off a 22 meter penalty. As Trinity struggled to counter the skyrocketing kicks of Maduwantha, the Antonian front line took it upon themselves to push through but was unable to execute a try.
Photos: Trinity College vs St. Anthony’s College – Schools Rugby 2016
The marvel Maduwantha showcased a classic fly-half move when he kicked a Nalaka Weerakkody equivalent 50-meter drop goal as the Eagles were able to cut the deficit to four points (10-6).
Trinity however got the upper hand in the dying stages of the game when the St. Anthony’s wing-three quarter missed the Trinity College player as Shalindra Alahakoon and mauled through the front line to score (15-6).
Half time: Trinity 15 (3T) to St. Anthony’s 6 (2P)
The second half was another dream start for the Lions as scrum half Boyagoda and Shalindra executed a perfect set piece to score the opener. Shalindra Alahakoon’s try didn’t have the privilege of a conversion but Trinity held a commanding position with 35 minutes to go on the clock (20-6).
St. Anthony’s later got their act together with a pinch of motivation from Samuel Maduwantha who kicked another penalty through the posts (20-9).
Disappointingly, the Antonians couldn’t stage their comeback attempt in the early minutes of the second half as Anuka Boyagoda stepped his way through to the try line for the fifth for Trinity (25-9).
The Antonian comeback was a bit too late in the game as Samuel Maduwantha rallied his troops forward to get themselves in try scoring positions but the two tries that came during the final minutes for the Antonians did not suffice to evade a defeat at Pallekelle. The breakthrough try came from the Antonian Hooker Alahakoon on the far left that got converted by Maduwantha, followed by a brilliant three-quarter try by the miracle man himself (16-27).
Click for more photos – Schools Rugby League 2016
Trinity’s Sanushka Abeywickrema extended his team’s lead with another try that was converted by Lashane Wijesuriya to take his team to 32-16 but failed to add the extras.
The unstoppable Maduwantha’s late try came in as a consolation for the Antonians with little time on the clock. With him converting the try he scored, St. Anthony’s shifted to 23 points but the end result was inevitable.
With this win, Trinity College register their fifth consecutive win against the Antonians as the full time score read 32-23 in favor of the hosts. Seven weeks down, Trinity still have not mastered their kicking as the lack of a consistent place kicker will still worry the Lions. St. Anthony’s will only have themselves to blame and would need to loosen up and play a complete game rather than depending on a single man.
ThePapare.com’s Player of the Match : Samuel Maduwantha of St. Anthony’s
Full time score:
Trinity 32 (6T 1C) Tries by Shalindra Alahakoon (3), Anuka Boyagoda, Diluksha Dange, Sanushka Abeywickrema
Conversion by Lashane Wijesuriya
Yellow cards: Rashean Bandaranayake, Dliuksha Dange
St. Anthony’s 23 (2P 2T 2C 1DG)
1T 2P 2C 1DG by Samuel Maduwantha
Try by K. B. Alahakoon
