Dharmaraja facing a rough time in the last 20 minutes held their defense to beat the former table toppers in a close encounter at the Bogambara Stadium, Kandy.
Despite predictions the weather held fine and the Peterites expected a better performance and a win to keep their title hopes alive after their loss to the other Kandy school, Trinity College in the previous week.
The Rajans opened the score with a 40 metre penalty put over by full back Thilina Wijesinghe when a Peterite player was penalized for going over the ruck to lead 3 nil in the first 5 minutes of the game. Not long thereafter the full back Wijesinghe scored again through a try which was easily goaled to lead 10 nil within 12 minutes of play.
The Peterites full back Kevin Dixon scored a try thereafter to reduce the deficit to 10 – 5 but saw the Rajans score their 2nd try through Tharindu Kulawansa which was also goaled by Wijesinghe to increase their lead to 17 – 5. Before half time the Peterites scored a try through skipper Weerakkody and Jerome Canute converted.
Dharmaraja was leading 17-12 at the breather.
Peterites Play catch up rugby
The 2nd half was almost the same story of Petes playing catch up rugby. They let the Rajans score another try though Buwaneka Udangamuwa which was goaled by their place kicker Wijesinghe who had a very good day accounting for 9 points (3 convertions and a penalty). With the score reading 24 – 12, though the Peterites were camped in Rajan territory during most of the 2nd half, in fact most of the time, they managed only another unconverted try ending on the losing side 17 – 24. The place kicking of the normally reliable Jude Canute was off- colour yesterday and had he converted the 2 tries and 2 penalties missed the story would have been different.
Final Score – 24-17 to Dharmaraja
