Defending League and Sevens Champions St Peter’s College hit the ground running in the 2025 Dialog Schools Rugby Season, brushing aside Thurstan College in what was a resounding 51-08 victory at the Royal Complex.
St. Peter’s College and Thurstan College locked horns in the pre quarter final segment of the Dialog Schools Rugby Knockout Championship 2025, played for the Presidents’ Trophy. The Peterites, who suffered a heartbreaking defeat in the finals of the same competition last season, were out to make amends.
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As expected, the Peterites opened the scoring in just the 4th minute after Number 08 Shenuka Perera broke off the back of a 5 metre scrum, giving his side an extra man out wide, winger Diwanka Jayarathne dived over the try line to finish off a well worked move. Vihan Rusith failed to convert from a tough angle (SPC 05-00 TC).
The Peterites doubled their advantage in the 10th minute following another smooth move off the scrum, this time from inside their own 22. Skipper Vishenka Silva’s chip was chased well by Nethshan Manthusha, who beat two hapless defenders before touching down under the posts for his first try of the game. Rusith missed what should have been a simple conversion (SPC 10-00 TC).
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Thurstan added their only points of the first half in the 17th minute after winning a penalty in the breakdown,which was flawlessly kicked between the posts by full back Akeesha Kumara (SPC 10-03 TC).
The forwards of St. Peter’s College then worked seamlessly through the phases, gaining significant territory for their side and earned a penalty in the breakdown in the 19th minute, scrum-half Senuth Dinsara passed chose to take it quickly and worked the ball to Pramuka Theekshana, who brilliantly stepped past no less than 5 defenders to touch down under the posts. Vishenka Silva succeeded with the conversion to give his side the extras (SPC 17-03 TC).
In the 25th minute, Nethshan Manthusha effortlessly sliced through the Thurstanite line to touch down for his second try of the game. Rusith was successful with the conversion on this occasion (SPC 24-03 TC).
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The forwards once again came to the fore in the 31st minute. Diving on top of an attempted rolling maul by the Thurstanites, stopping them dead in their tracks. This was followed by yet another silky move from the backline off the ensuing scrum, carrying the ball out of their own 22 before working it wide to Jayarathne, who touched down under the posts after running 50 metres. The conversion was charged down by the Thurstanites (SPC 29-03 TC).
The Bamba Brigade added their 6th try of the game on the stroke of halftime, after Jamal Wahab sold a lovely dummy before stepping past the last defender to go over the try line. The conversion was yet again unsuccessful.
Half Time: St. Peter’s College 34 (6T,2C) – Thurstan College 03 (1P)
The Peterites took their foot off the second half. Allowing Thurstan more possession and territory while managing to add only a further 17 points to their half time score. The first of which came in the 40th minute, when Number 08 Shenuka Perera broke away from the back of the scrum, before pushing through the Thurstan blindside to dive over for another unconverted try (SPC 39-03 TC).
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In the 51st minute, Thurstan College made full use of their numerical advantage after the Peterites had one of their forwards sent off for an infringement in the breakdown. Working their line after winning a scrum inside the Peterite 22 before their big prop forward picked up the ball and dived over for their only try of the game. The conversion was missed (SPC 39-08 TC).
Vishenka Silva- last season’s highest try scorer- went over for his first try of the game in the 63rd minute, stepping past the Thurstan defence with ease before touching down in the corner. Emith Jayaweera added the extras (SPC 46-08 TC).
Silva then touched down in the corner once again to add his second try of the game in the 67th minute. Finishing off a move started by his forwards, who were brought down agonisingly short of the try line. Jayaweera failed to add the extras (SPC 51-08 TC).
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Silva’s second try capped off what was a comfortable and expected victory for the Peterites.
Who boast a star studded backline, featuring 3 national U-18 caps; Skipper Vishenka Silva, who also captained the national U-18 outfit, Senuth Dinsara, and Nethshan Manthusha. And they will surely have all the other teams on high alert. Despite their dominance, St. Peter’s conversion rate off the tee was poor, converting only 3 out of 9 tries – a concern they’ll need to address ahead of tougher fixtures.
Thurstan College, now under the guidance of the experienced Shamlie Nawaz, seem to have improved in their second season, but will still have their work cut out if they are to compete against the powerhouses of Sri Lankan schools rugby in Division 1, Segment A of the Dialog Schools Rugby League.
Peterite Centre Nethshan Manthusha was adjudged the Swisstek Player of the Match for his explosive plays and his two tries.
The Bamba Brigade will lock horns with Zahira College in next week’s quarter final while the Thurstanites will have time to go back to the drawing board before the Dialog Schools Rugby League which will kick off on 6th June.
Full Time : St. Peter’s College 51 (9T,3C) – Thurstan College 8 (1T,1P)
- Swisstek Player of the Match: Nethshan Manthusha (St. Peter’s College)
Points Breakdown
St. Peter’s College – 51
Vishenka Silva-2T,1C, Diwanka Jayarathna-2T, Nethshan Mathusha-2T, Pramuka Theekshana-1T, Jamal Wahab-1T, Shenuka Perera-1T, Vihan Rusith-1C, Emith Jayaweera-1C
Thurstan College – 08
Dasun Nimsara-1T, Akeesha Kumara-1P
