Favorites Trinity lived up to expectation, getting the better of a fighting Josephian outfit, 30-25 in the schools rugby league game played at Havelocks Sports Club.
Both teams in following defeats last weekend. The Josephians made 3 changes, two in the forwards and welcomed highest points scorer Sachith Silva while the lads from Kandy made 5 changes to their starting lineups.
The lads from Maradana were in danger of facing backlash as Trinity sought to revive title ambitions following a shock defeat last weekend.
Early signs were ominous as Rishane Madena scored off the very first line out for the lads from Kandy. His try went unconverted from the 15-meter line. (SJC 00-05 TCK)
Known for being inconsistent this season, the Josephians showed promising signs early on replying with a try of their own through talisman and five eight, Chatura Seneviratne. Sachith Silva added the extras giving the hosts a surprising lead at the end of the 10th minute. (SJC 07-05 TCK)
The Josephians displayed signs of – them be here to play – as nippy scrum half Rashane Gunawardena finished off a move he began following a line out steal.
The half back picked and went untouched sniping down the short side as the defenders fell asleep for an instant. Sachith continued his good day with the boot adding the extras, extending the Josephians lead. (SJC 14-05 TCK)
Shan Akila saw yellow for as he got involved in some unwanted bust up, and even though the hosts took a lead, the fragile defense was well exploited by the visitors and with the lethal side the visitors seemed to be, they quickly responded with yet another try off captain Nathan Yee.
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With Lashan Wijesuriya being rested Trinity lacked a kicking portion and that was shown as replacement kicker Bandaranayake missed the conversion. (SJC 14-10 TCK)
Trinity soon made another score as the Josephians displayed their indiscipline side to the game.
Half back Anuka Boyagoda was the man this time as he crawled his way to the white wash following 5 phases of excellent side to side play.
Rajaratnam took over the kicking duties but the result was the same as the visitors took a slender one point lead. (SJC 14-15 TCK)
Sachith Silva added a couple of penalties either side of halftime as the hosts went into the break with a two point lead.
Half Time: St. Josephs 17 (2T 2C 1P) – Trinity College 15 (3T)
The penalties either side of the break seemed to spur on the visitors as they struck back through five eight Akitha Sakalasuriya.
Undoubtedly the best try of the match came off yet another Josephian knock on. Handling errors mounted against the hosts and Trinity was at hand to punish the home team.
Lashan Wijesuriya came on minutes earlier and was at hand to put over the conversion, securing the bonus point. (SJC 20-22 TCK)
The visitors squandered a try scoring opportunity but that was instantly put behind them as they added 8 quick points, seemly putting the game to bed.
A Fiji move which they made their own -saw Trinity half back Boyagoda make a slick inside pop, five meters away from the try line, sending over Warren Weerakoon to add a cushion between the sides. Wijesuriya failed to add the extras from a tight angle. (SJC 20-27 TCK)
Indiscipline and handling errors mounted against the name of the hosts as Wijesuriya was at hand to put over three points as steam seemed to be running out on the home team. (SJC 20-30 TCK)
The home side seemed to regroup following the try and put up a rather surprising fight back, trailing by just 10 points.
Vinul Fernando brought on the Razzle Dazzle – albeit a bit too late – finishing off a try he started eight phases earlier.
Samarawickrama saw yellow for continuous infringements which meant the visitors had to play out the final minutes minus a man.
Silva failed to add the extras from out wide, even though it was just a five point game going into the final few minutes. (SJC 25-30 TCK)
The hosts had plenty of opportunities to maybe shock the visitors in the final minutes but no player seemed to imagine his name in the headline as a knock-on, on the Joes goal line brought the game to an end, summing up the home team’s day.
Full Time: Trinity College 30 (5T 1C 1P) beat St. Joseph’s College 25 (3T 2C 2P)
ThePapare.com Player of the Match – Rishan Madena (TCK lock forward)
Man of the match Rishan added his thoughts following the win “We were expecting a tough game as they were also coming off a loss, but talking about coming back, we had to get back from the shock loss, and all we put in training seemed to pay off”
Points Breakdown
Joes : Chatura Seneviratne 1T, Rashane Goonawardena 1T, Vinul Fernando 1T, Sachith Silva 2C, 2P
Trinity : Rishane Madena 1T, Nathan Yee 1T, Anuka Boyagoda 1T, Akitha Sakalasuriya 1T, Warren Weerakoon 1T, Lashan Wijesuriya 1C, 1P
