Trinity College Kandy ended their Pallekelle hoodoo yesterday as they went on to beat St. Peter’s College 29-22 after a lapse of 10 years at home concluding Singer A Division league season.
A must win for the boys in the Hill Capital to keep their league title hopes alive, this 81st traditional encounter was dedicated in memory of Late General (Deshamanya) Denis Perera and the memorial trophy was introduced for the first time.
The high spirited Trinity rights from the referees whistle showcased aggressive attacking play gaining territory in their very first few moves. Quick hands by their dynamic centers, Shehan Perera and Sachintha Dissanayaka executed one of their set piece moves to perfection allowing the debutant Dinuk Ratwatte to score on the left flag. Though the conversion was missed, the 5 point lead at the end of the 3rd minute of play looked was an early warning for the peterites.
The Peterites quick to counter attack tried their usual routine to use their half backs. The aggressive Peterite standoff Shamri Burah stormed his way to the try line which was a result off a 5m infringement conceived by Trinity. Unfortunately the easy conversion did not pass through leaving the scores at level (5-5).
Trinity’s aggression hit the visitors towards the latter part of the half were trying to maximize on the infringements committed by the visitors. However Trinity saw their breakthrough towards the 30th minute of play as a loophole in the 5m lineout made the Trinity #8 cross the line for the second try. The converted try gave Trinity lead as they went in for half time (12-5).
St. Peter’s came back in to the second half with a different strategy opting to go for goal when given the opportunity. The young Peterite skipper, Kevin Dixon leading his team was very watchful of the high balls at the back to his dismay a ball landing in no man’s land was collected cleanly by his counterpart Ratwatte who cruised through to the try line. This was more or less a gifted try to the home side as a faulty move by the visitors aided the try. Ratwatte making no mistake added the two easy points to escalate score to 19-5.
With Ratwatte once again having the opportunity to increase the deficit by an additional three points with a 35m penalty infornt of the posts, the peterites came back strongly first with a 10 meter penalty from the flyhalf Shamri Burah and a try from their skipper put them back in the game. The versatile Peterite full back Kevin Dixon took the penultimate challenge put forward by Trinity all by himself as he ran riot around the Trinity defense covering at least 50 meters to score under the posts. This indeed was a game changer, as this was never anticipated. With Burah adding the points, the lead was cut short to just a goal apart 15-22.
This might have liven up the spirits in the St. Peter’s camp since they were put back in the game by their very own skipper and the Peterites showcased to be quite dangerous specially in their attacking 22m. The Trinity defense had the power to hold the incoming forces but could not prevent the Burah try. A perfectly executed lobbied pass to Burah from their scrum half Dharmarathna made Burah go over the try line taking on at least three defenders. With Burah himself adding the points, this brought the scores once again were even with less than 7 minutes of play remaining.(22-22)
Trinity needed to fightback and quickly as the clock was ticking. It seemed as Trinity’s move to bring in fresh legs in the second half proved fruitful as the replacement wing three quarter Shiek covered at least 40 meters while offloading it to the hefty prop forward Basu Karunathilake who scored the fourth and winning try for the team. This try made the crowd gathered in hundreds go wild in celebration. (27-22)
With the kick going over, the game ended with Trinity being triumphant in their last outing and breaks the 10 year hoodoo against St. Peter’s as the last recorded win against the Peterites at home grounds Palakelle dates way back to 2004.
It was an exciting game of rugby with some spectacular plays witnessed as this keep hope alive for the Lions of a historical title win. This encounter marks a few of the lasts games as this was the last game of Coach Neil Foote in Pallekelle since he would be leaving at the course of the season. The team showing their appreciation to their ever loving coach displayed their ‘Hakka’ in respect to their mentor.
Trinity have hence being able to record an unbeaten stint at home for the first time after 2009 as the exciting 2014 league comes to a closure at Pallekelle.
ThePapare adjudged Kevin Dixon to be the Most Valued Player
Points break down – Trinity 29 1P 3G 1T (Tries by Dinuk Ratwatte, Basu Karunathilaka, Isuru Rangala, Tarinda Ratwatte/ 3 Conversions and a Penalty Tarinda Ratwatte) to SPC 22 1P 2G 1T (Tries by Kevin Dixon, Shamri Burah 2/Conversions & Penalties by Burah)
