An error-laden game at Pallekelle saw Trinity College fall short of St. Joseph’s College by 15 (2T 1C 1P) points to 20 (2T 2C 2P) as the visitors clung onto their unbeaten tag in the Dialog Schools Rugby League 2022.
The Josephians made two changes to their backline as Trinity entered the fray with three changes, surprisingly omitting Skipper Lithmal Moragoda.
The two unbeaten sides from group 1A locked horns on a chilly evening up in the hill capital, as the traveling Josephians expected plenty from their side.
The visitors started off in a similar fashion to their previous encounters as Naveen Marasinghe managed an early try after the Josephians turned over a line out from their own five-meter line and scrapped their way towards the whitewash following some aerial ping pong.
Dilhara Subash added the extras to give the Josephians the perfect start. (TCK 00-07 SJC)
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Moments later, Dilhara Subash slotted over from 15-meters out as the Trinity forwards were penalized for infringing at the breakdown. (TCK 00-10 SJC)
The home team finally managed to get the scoreboard ticking off the left foot of fullback Kovida Wickramasinghe as he notched over to cut the deficit. (TCK 03-10 SJC)
An enthralling first half had plenty more to unfold as Josephian Skipper set up winger Randika Dhananjaya for the visitors.
Teran’s sublime, marginal cut-out pass meant the Trinity defense on the edge was found wanting, only for Randika to beat the final defender and dot down. Subash made no mistake from out-wide to put in a healthy cushion between the two sides. (TCK 03-17 SJC)
Minutes later, Trinity struck back with a try of their own, as the altitude seemed to be getting to the Josephians as fatigue set in.
The nippy half-back pounced on the opportunity, taking a quick tap from 5-meters out as the Josephians were penalized at the breakdown, setting swashbuckling center Ashen Wijesuriya to bust through the visiting defense to dot down at the stroke of halftime.
Kovida Wickramasinghe missed the crucial extras as Trinity failed to take their score into double figures before lemons. (TCK 08-17 SJC)
Half time: Trinity College 08 (1T 1P) trail St. Joseph’s College 17 (2T 2C 1P)
Errors snuck into the game in the 2nd half as both Trinity and St. Joseph’s were found wanting with fatigue setting in.
Twenty minutes of the second half passed with neither team able to breach their opponent’s defense, as they both failed to punish each other’s errors as well.
It took twenty-three minutes of the second half for the first points as Josephian five-eighth Subash slotted over his fourth kick off the tee to keep his 100% record intact, extending the visitors’ lead further. (TCK 08-20 SJC)
The lack of points in the second half meant errors only increased, as neither team managed to find their feet in the game.
Trinity, however, managed a try in the dying embers. Kovida added the extras of his team’s center, Anuhas Kodithuwakku. (TCK 15-20 SJC)
A scrappy second half ended with a handling error as the visitors managed a thrilling win, as Trinity failed to repeat their Houdini act from last week with time running out on them on this occasion.
The ecstatic Josephians remained unbeaten at the end of the third round, with a crucial encounter against Royal lined up next.
Full time: Trinity College 15 (2T 1C 1P) lost to St. Joseph’s College 20 (2T 2C 2P)
NDB player of the Match: Sachinthana Waidyanatha (SJC Flanker)
Points Breakdown:
St. Joseph’s College:
Naveen Marasinghe 1T, Dilhara Subash 2C 2P, Randika Dhananjaya 1T
Trinity College:
Kovida Wickramasinghe 1C 1P, Anuhas Kodithuwakku 1T, Ashen Wijesuriya 1T
 - 20 (2T 2C 2P) - as the visitors clung onto their unbeaten tag in the Dialog Schools Rugby League encounter.){kind=link}