S.Thomas’ College, were on the front foot with their players looking positive within the first few minutes of the game. However, the Thomians missed three golden opportunities to score because of repetitive handling errors. Nevertheless, it was S.Thomas’ who drew first blood on the scoreboard within the first 20 minutes of the game as they scored through Mayon Jayawardena, upon receiving a good pass from Hans Walpola. Half-back Dion Dias was on point with his boot. (STC – 07 : SCI – 00)
Walpola and Dias were running the Thomian team through the phases whilst playing a territorial game while Hashan Madumadawa looked dangerous for Science College. The Thomian forwards later built up the phases through pick-and-drives and Hooker Aabid Cader was over the line in the far corner, but Dias was unable to add the extra points. (STC – 12 : SCI – 00)
At the breather, S.Thomas’ were ahead in the game in what was a rather haphazard first half with some mediocre handling and indiscipline from both teams.
Half Time : STC – 12 : SCI – 00
Science College brought on a whole new game in the second half as the whole team functioned as one. It wasn’t long before, Science College scored in the corner through the winger P.D Fernando. The conversion was not successful. (STC – 12 : SCI – 05)
Denuwan Silva of Science College was sent to the sin-bin for slipping too high in the tackle. The rather scrambled Thomian outfit that appeared in the first half seemed to have finally got their grip. Working the phases and using the ball in open play, the hosts team now began to worry their rivals lads from Science College. Hashan Madumadawa, after ripping the ball from the hands of a Thomian ball carrier seemed to be going for a 100-meter dash to the opposite goal-line but was penalised for being offside. Dion capitalising on the penalty added another valuable three points for S.Thomas’. (STC – 15 : SCI – 05)
Hashan Madumadawa was back with the ball in hand and broke through the Thomian line, scoring under the posts. The conversion was successful and Science College were back in the game. (STC – 15 : SCI – 12)
It was now anyone’s game, and both teams now were battling it out evenly. Science College did well at holding up the Thomian attack until the dying stages of the game but, winger Seshan Mathangaweera found himself with open space out wide and went over to score the much needed breakthrough, that sealed the game for S.Thomas’. (STC –20 : SCI – 12)
S.Thomas’ College won the game with a full time score of 20 points to 12 in what was a rather disappointing Mount Lavinia derby.
STC – 20 (3T, 1C, 1P) – Mayon Jayawardena, Aabid Cader, Seshan Mathangaweera
SCI – 12 (2T, 1C) – Hashan Madumadawa, Denuwan Fernando
ThePapare.com player of the match- Hashan Madumadawa
