Spirited Science College defeated the high-riding St. Joseph’s College by 29 points (5T, 2C) to 26 points (4T,3C) in a cracking Singer Schools Rugby League – Cup Championship encounter worked out on Saturday at Templers Road, Mount Lavinia.
The much-anticipated 2nd round fixtures started on Saturday in four different venues. The two most improved rugby teams in the recent past, Science and St. Joseph’s were hoping to dish out nail-biting schools rugby as Thanuja Maduranga kicked off the game.
The hosts were in the attacking mode from the word go and they enjoyed much of the possession and territory early on before prop forward A Weeranga barged over the try line as the Josephian defense failed to hold him down in the 10th minute of the match. Fly-half N Neranjan converted the try. (Science 07 – St. Joseph’s 00)
The visitors got their act together a few minutes later as their nippy winger, Vinul Fernando danced his way through couple of defenders to score a classical winger’s try from the blind side. Shamilka Kurumbalapitiya converted with ease as Joes leveled the scores. (Science 07 – St. Joseph’s 07)
After 15 minutes of entertaining rugby, Science College went ahead on the score board when their play maker and skipper Lasindu Ishan scored his 1st try of the match in the near corner. Tanuja Maduranga failed to convert the try. (Science 12 – St. Joseph’s 07)
With the clock nearing 20 minutes, Josephians needed some inspiration to hit back and their captain Taariq Salih made a terrific run to take his team deep into the Science territory from their own territory. Taariq’s outstanding work was ended in a try for the big prop forward Stephan Gregory in the far left corner. Shamilka Kurumbalapitiya converted superbly to take his alma mater into the lead for the first time. (Science 12 – St. Joseph’s 14)
St. Joseph’s received a penalty kick from 30-meters out but Shamilka failed to bisect the posts as the second quarter of the first half went without much hassle or change in the scoreboard with both teams losing possession and territory due to their unforced errors.
Half Time: St. Joseph’s 14 (2T,2C) – Science 12 (2T,1C)
After the 10-minute breather, Shamilka Kurumbalapitiya kicked off the game for another round of enthralling rugby. Josephians have been renowned for energetic comebacks in the 2nd half this season and they did justice to this reputation as the ‘Man Mountain’ Stephan Gregory took a short quick tap off a 5-meter penalty to burst his way over the big white line. Shamilka Kurumbalapitiya’s conversion kick went astray. (Science 12 – St. Joseph’s 19)
The visitors also known as Blue & White Hornets were down to 14 players on the field in the 46th minute of the match when their lock forward Ishane Pietersz was sent to the ‘Naughty Chair’ for a high tackle but the hosts failed to cut down the deficit as their place kicker, Thanuja Maduranga failed to boot a much easy penalty kick through the uprights.
Science used their speedy backs and the width of the field to penetrate the 14-man Josephian defence in the 50th minute and their number 8 and leader of the pack, Lasindu Ishan scored his 2nd try as the hosts looked to energize a comeback rally. Thanuja Maduranga once again missed a convenient conversion kick. (Science 17 – St. Joseph’s 19)
The pendulum swung completely towards the home team as their back line was all over the park and in the 55th minute winger Tharindu Maduranga touched down in the far corner to put his team to the lead once again. N Neranjan missed the conversion.
(Science 22 – St. Joseph’s 19)
The dashing Science back line struck gold again to score their 3rd try inside 10 minutes of play between 50-60 minutes of the game clock. This time, poor Josephian handling helped the home team and Tharindu Maduranga added another try to his tally. N Neranjan converted with ease to extend the lead to 10 points. (Science 29 – St. Joseph’s 19)
The boys from Darley Road never gave up the battle as they initiated a stiff comeback rally as their big prop forward, Stephan Gregory completed a hat-trick of tries in the 70th minute by going over for yet another try as he was not troubled by all the defenders on the back of him. Replacement fly-half Dulith Fernando neatly bisected the posts to cut down the deficit to only 3 points. (Science 29 – St. Joseph’s 26)
The last 10 minutes of the match was played in testing atmosphere as all the people present at the ground were kept on the edge of their seats by both teams. Josephians were once again down to 14 played when their center Gemunu Chethiya was yellow-carded for a high tack but they used their big forwards to power their through while the Science boys used their speed to dish out thrilling rugby.
None of the teams scored in the end as the team with bigger hearts and motive to win, the boys in Maroon bagged the game in a cracking game.
Full Time: Science College 29 (5T,2C) – St. Joseph’s College 26 (4T,3C)
Referee – Dinka Peiris
ThePapare Player of the Match – Lasindu Ishan (Science Captain)
Points Scorers (Science College)
Lasindu Ishan 10 points(2 tries), A Weeranga 5 points (1 try), Tharindu Maduranga 10 points (2 tries), N Neranjan 4 points (2 conversions)
Points Scorers: (St. Joseph’s College)
Stephan Gregory 15 points (3 tries), Vinul Fernando 5 points (1 try), Shamilka Kurumbalapitiya 4 points (2 conversions), Dulith Fernando 2 points (1 conversion)
