St. Peterse College’s last minute magic not only brings in the victory in their last game of the league but also the makes them the overall 2nd runners up.
The game from start drew the attention of supporters from both schools. St. Peter’s College was playing to win the title to be the second runners up; Wesley College confident from the start since it was a matter of securing their position. The stadium was filled with optimistic fans of both teams but Wesley College followers were in better spirits at the start, or to be more precise till the last minute.
The initiation to the game was by Wesley College with the first converted try. D.D.N. Rajakaruna playing at number 23 was up with the magic to gain the first 5 points while K De Silva,the kicker, added the extra two points making the overall to a 7 -0 in favor of the double blues. This built tension among the Peterites who got the ball moving from the next minute. No sooner quick penalties came to both schools. Jerome the No. 13 kicker for St. Peter’s College was first to score the penalty.
Next up Wesley College was back in attack and they almost made it but was not good enough; settling down to a penalty as the game fluctuated once again in favor of St. Peter’s College. The strong backline of Wesley College prevented another try which resulted the second penalty for Peterites making the total 10 – 6 ; Wesley still in the lead.
Hungry for a try St. Peter’s College was pushing the ball forward. The first out of four yellow cards for the Petes were issued at this point, which later turned out to be controversial. No. 25 was out of the field but they were able to gain the try they were seeking for. St. Peter’s College leading the score board for the first time with 13 – 10.
Wesley did not take more than 10 minutes to be in the attack; with an unconverted try and a converted they were totaling up for 22 points before the half time. No 10 J. P. Madhushan was on the owner of both the tries.
Soon after half time, the game turned blue, white and gold. The first try came in for Peter’s by M. Magage the No. 07 player. It was a conversion which made the score 20 – 22 in favor of Wesley College still. Next up the unconverted try changed the game in favor of St. Peter’s College after the long pause.
However the game was not all in the hands of Peterites as the third Yellow card came into play yet things went in favor of St. Peter’s College in the latter half; this brought forward confidence as the line was moving as a team, but through all this Wesley scored and converted again leaving the blue gold’s in a tough position in the final few ticks. At 29 – 25 Wesley College was seconds away from celebrating the triumph.
The head to head battle of fantastic nail biting rugby ended with a final twist. The last few minutes, with the line moving in favor of St. Peter’s College who had to bring these 5 points to win the game; no 15 – Kevin Dexon – was the knight for Peter’s College who saved the game with the last try to bring their overall score 30 taking over Wesley College by 1 point. Within a moment the full time closed in settling Wesley College at the fourth place and St. Peter’s College up an notch to 3rd place.
“I am pleased about the position we gained. Most of all I respect all the opponents and never underestimate anyone. Well I don’t think this as an end but rather a pause; however, strictly commenting on this season I think Dharamaja turned around the game for us. This was a tough point, as always I was patient but I’d like to credit my boys for taking it the right way and digesting the defeat. Till then we didn’t face a single loss but they maintained the character” the coach of St. Peter’s College Collin Dennis worded his candid feelings to ThePapare.com.
“Playing in the A division itself is a victory to us, and climbing up the points scheme being in the third place was a remarkable opportunity till the last minute” Usama Thaha Wesley’s wing three-quarter remarking on their journey in the A division. “Frankly we were holding the title till the last 5 mins of the whole league, everyone was taken aback with the try. Peter’s is a strong side who is known to play hard till the last minute, so did we. Regardless of their last minute substitutions we were able to defend the pressure; am honestly speechless about the last couple of minutes. After all for a school who just got into A division this is more than a treat; we not only got to the top of the points table we beat many leading schools. The start itself was the victory against the rugby giants ’Isipathana College’. I am very hopeful of what is to come for Wesley Rugby” he added.
