S. Thomas’ College, Mount Lavinia put together a discipled performance to register a comfortable 40-10 win over Lumbini Vidyalaya at the STC grounds earlier in the day.
S. Thomas’ College, Mount Lavinia hosted counterparts Lumbini Vidyalaya for their Singer Schools Rugby League fixture at Mount Lavinia this evening. The lads from Lumbini faced up to a hostile Thomian lineup, with full-time scores reading 40-10 in favour of STC.
Lumbini Vidyalaya took the kick-off and the Thomians started in unorthodox fashion with a “pick and drive” maneuver right in their half. However, it seemed to be working in their favour as it helped them come into the Lumbini red zone.
Handling the pressure well, Lumbini Vidyalaya fought tooth and nail to defend their territory and managed to deny the Thomians four times. Initially they pushed an STC rolling maul out of touch. Then they capitalized on a knock-on by Thomian prop Handunpathirana and worked the ball, playing advantage. The Thomian fullback Sajeewa came up with a brilliant try saving tackle which took the Lumbinian winger to touch. The Lumbini side defended another oncoming Thomian maul and managed to steal the ball and kick it to touch to get them out of trouble. The Thomians came back to the Lumbini red zone with a bonus of a 5-meter scrum in favour of them. The Thomian No. 08 made a break and crossed the line but was valiantly held up by the opposition defence.
This poked the sleeping bear and the Thomians came back yet again, sending their No. 08 Lashendra De Silva, who fended off 2 defenders, over the line to take first blood. Center Ferdinando added the 2 extra points. (07-00)
Lumbini fought back through their skilled Center Tuan who stepped his way through, creating holes in the Thomian defence as he went over to score. However, Dilan Nilupul the full-back failed to convert this and the Thomians continued to lead. (07-05)
Lumbini seemed disoriented by the move made by the Thomians and went into a phase of disorganized play which gifted possession to the hosts as Lashendra De Silva went over again to score his second try. Ferdinando too made no mistake in converting it. (14-05)
The Lumbini lads pulled themselves together and kept the Thomians in their backyard for some time and finally managed to find a space to make a break through their backs. However, Sajeewa performed his full-back duties perfectly and made another try saving tackle.
Lumbini fly-half came under pressure from the Thomian scrum-half Sakith and knocked on in their red zone which awarded the Thomians a 5-meter line out.
Lumbini then had to play with 14 men as their prop Careem was sent to the naughty chair for dangerous play. Skipper De Lile picked up an offload from the No. 08 Lashendra and went over the line but was again held up by the Lumbini defence. However, De Lile got his second chance through a 5-meter line out and scored; Ferdinando converted. (21-05)
Half Time – STC 21 – 05 Lumbini
After lemons Lumbini fought back with another try through their full back Dilan Nilupul who, with his spot-on stepping, made his way to the try line. Disappointinly, he could not convert. (21-10)
The Thomians came back with a try of their own through center Ferdinando who picked an offload from scrum half Sakith. However, Ferdinando could not convert his own try. (26-10)
STC gave a hard time to Lumbini when skipper De Lile went over the try line again after breaking off a rolling maul and Ferdinando made no mistake this time with the conversion. (33-10)
With the Thomian scrum half Sakith being sent to the sin bin, Center Aaron Ferdinando had to take over scrum-half duties for the Thomians. He showed his class when he quickly adapted to the new position and with a base kick from his boot the Thomians made way to score again through a penalty awarded for the Lumbini player who knocked on. Taking a 5-meter scrum, skipper De Lile pumped his way through to touch down for the Thomians yet again and Ferdinando did the honours of booting in the 2 extra points. (40-10)
With the Lumbini side getting more and more aggressive, the Thomian prop Handunpathirana was found guilty of overreacting and confronting the Lumbini players and was sent to the sin bin.
After a few close calls on both sides for additional points, the referee blew the long whistle and called it a day in favour of the School by the Sea.
Full Time: S. Thomas’ College, Mount Lavinia 40 (6T, 5C) defeat Lumbini Vidyalaya 10 (2T)
- The Papare Player of the Match: Christian De Lile
Breakdown
STC: Tries from Lashendra Peiris (2), Christian De Lile (3) and Aaron Ferdinando (1). Conversions (5) by Aaron Ferdinando
Send offs: Sakith Perera, Adisha Handunpathirana
Lumbini – Tries from T. Fakeer and W. Shalinda
Send offs: M F Careem
