The second week for Science College, Mount Lavinia was kicked at 4.40 pm at their College grounds against St. Peter`s College, Colombo – 04.
Science boys started the game with a positive mind set with the recorded victory last week nevertheless the Peterites were head to head with a new strategy after the draw they suffered against the Kandy lads last week. Peterites being the better team today beat Science College in their den to record their first victory for the season. At full time scores read as 27-22.
Play for the day commenced when Shamri Burah kicked the ball in to the blue sky. It was perfect weather conditions for a game of rugby with slight wind blowing over and with bright sunlight.
St. Peter`s dominated the Science half within the first few minutes of the game. Setting up play by dominating territory, the Peterite flanker Nishon Perera ran through the defence line in the third minute on the blind side and touched the ball right under the post and drew first blood. The Peterite place kicker Burah making no mistake sailed the ball through the uprights to give them the early lead. (SPC 07 – SC 00)
Just few minutes after Science College was awarded a penalty for some clear mistakes done by the Peterites and for off side play. When luck played it`s part early for the home lads they made no mistake in getting the party started for them. Ruvin Fernando kicked the ball through the uprights and bought the first three points to the home team. (SPC – 07 SC -03)
In the ninth minute of the game, referee indicated the importance of the rules in the game when he drew a yellow card from his pocket in favour of Prasad Malinda who went for a high tackle on the Peterite full back.
Both teams were head to head in speed but the visitors taking the better of it scored off a brilliant try in the sixteenth minute of the game. Initiated by Kevin Dixon which was later passed to Nishon Perera and who drove through the defence line with immense speed and later on passed back to Kevin Dixon who followed him up to finish the job in style. Burah sailed the ball through and bought full value to the try. (SPC- 14 SC -03)
Burah dropping the ball for a knock-on and referee calling for a five meter scrum put the visitors under pressure. With a fantastic break from the Science No.8 Lasindu Karunathilake pressure was right up. However the mighty Peterite defence kept him down which made the referee call another five meter scrum and this time the home team made no mistake when Sajith Silva kept the ball on the ground to score the first try for the home team in the twenty second minute. Conversion failed. (SPC-14 SC-08)
In the twenty fifth minute of the game a penalty was awarded in favour of the Peterites and Burah made no mistake in putting it through. (SPC- 17 SC- 08)
Shamri Burah continuing his form since the first game played a game that is worth of applause. Handling the game situations well he helped his team to dominate the first half and paved the way for victory. In the thirty fifth minute he intercepted a pass off the home lads and scored off a individual try on the right side of the Science lawn and put the visitors beyond reach when the sound of the whistle concluded the first half just five minutes after. Conversion failed. (SPC -22 SC-08)
Half Time – St. Peter`s College -22 Science College – 08
The second passage of play commenced when the home team kicked off the oval shape ball high in to the Blue Sky. Both teams showed lack of ball handling which was a basic error. Science lads had to play with new strategies as the Peterites took the advantage of their mistakes in the first half.
Proving the fact right, the home team with a brilliant come back levelled the scoreboard with two quick tries scored from their boys. Just five minutes after the start of the second passage of the play, Ruvin Fernando fed the ball to the home team line and created play to Dilum Randika who put the first points for the home team in the second half. Ruvin making no mistake in his conversion gave back hopes for the home crowd of a fight back. (SPC -22 SC-15)
In the forty-seventh minute of the game the home team came right back in the game when the Science College NO.8 Lasindu Karunathileke scored off a pick and go which levelled the scores when the conversion was put on by the Place Kicker for the home team.
With the two quick tries, it was anybody`s game to take back home. Pressure was equal on both sides with both urging for victory in the season. Proving the fact right the tired legs of Shamri Burah failed to accomplish a penalty in the forty-ninth minute of the game.
Peterites holding immense experience within their side on close games were changing their strategies to go back to the winning road. When the Peterite scrum-half Steve Dharamaratne passed the ball to Burah who set the play and gave away to Nishon who handed the ball to Dilshan Fonseka to finish the job where he made no mistake in scoring the try to bring the game back to the hands of the Peterites. Conversion failed. (SPC -27 SC-22)
The intense of the game drew the crowd to the side lines. Burah showed signs of tiredness and failed to accomplish a 40m penalty. The Science lads were trying everything within their reach to gain back territory. But the Peterite defence outsmarted them within the last few minutes. The game was heating up and the it was indeed a pity to see a red card drawing out of the referee`s pockets for a school boy. The Science College player Prasad Malinda suffered for his indiscipline that he showed when he tried to get in to a brawl.
Both teams were head to head in speed but Peterites being the better side with experience of holding on for close finishes and brilliant come backs, proved their legacy in style. Despite everyone`s expectations and comments the game proved the important of experience. Concluding the eighty minutes of the game the referee blew the whistle.
Full Time – St. Peter`s College – 27 Science College – 22
ThePapare.com player of the match – Shamri Burah
