All-round Science College stole the show in an emphatic 26(4T, 3C) – 17(3T, 1C) win in the 2015 season opener against their cross town rivals S.Thomas’ College.
Since Science College got promoted to the A Division it is them who has ruled the roost in the ‘Mount Lavinia Derby’ and they were in no mood to relinquish that strangle hold. S.Thomas’ had a point to prove after getting blow away 29-7 last year to the reigning Kings of the town.
So they did as S.Thomas’ started off positively with their forwards earning themselves a few penalties in kickable position but instead opted to go for touch showing little confidence in fly half Hans Walpola. With the pressure mounting on Science, Thomians spread the ball wide and Henakankanamge went over the whitewash, opening the Thora tally for the season inside the first 5 minutes – Hans Walpola missed the conversion from the right corner. 5-0
Both sides gave away penalties showing early season rust but it was a well worked try from their own 22 that started the Science College ascendance. Winger Dilan Silva showed great pace to shrug off the Thomian midfield defense running 60 meters before passing to Udesh Madushanka and Lakshitha De Silva put the finishing touches going under the posts with Thanuja Maduranga adding the extra points 5-7
As predicted before the game it was the backs of Science against the forwards of their neighbours and the lesser known outfit did all the talking for the next half an hour living inside the opposition half. Thanuja had a chance to extend the lead to five points but missed an easy penalty. Science orchestrated another attack from their 22 with Dilan Silva burning his opposition wing for pace but the pass to Thanuja was deemed forward, a marginal call by the referee – else it was another try under the posts.
Not to be disheartened Science kept at it and from a five meter lineout they pulled off an early try of the season contender – a set move from the All Blacks playbook to precision. A short lineout passed through the hands to the thrower himself, Lahiru Walgamage who slipped in from the corner. – Thanuja missed from the angle. 5-12.
On the stroke of halftime hosts cut the deficit to two points thanks to referee Pradeep Fernando who missed a forward pass by Ashwantha Herath and full back Bumindra Dissanayake scored towards the corner where Walpola who had a miserable day missed again. 10-12
Ten minutes into the second half S.Thomas’ took the lead when Pandula De Silva barged over the line from a rolling maul and Walpola added the easy two points making it 17-12.
It was evident that the Thomians had only one plan and that was to use their heavier forwards to ram the Science defense. However the visitors were equal to it negating the threat which left the Thomians listless. With Science winning the battle in the forwards for the second time in two seasons led by skipper and Sri Lanka U19 player Lasindu Karunathilaka their backs again weaved some magic at the slower Thora backline. It was the speedster Dilan Silva who was the architect as he sent the Thora defense into a spin running, side stepping his way to 50 meters and Udesh Madushanka capped off the good work with a try. Nishad Niranjan taking over the kicking duties added the two with the ball bouncing off the crossbar kindly for the visitors. 17-19
Minutes from the time Walpola had the opportunity to steal the win from the 25 meter penalty but living up to his horrible kicking game, he sent it wide from in front of the posts. Thomians had another chance with a 5 meter scrum but it was turned over with the kick and chase by Thanuja Fernando going over the line near the corner for a deserved try for his hard work. Niranjan added the extra from a difficult angle. 17-26.
Talking to ThePapare.com an ecstatic Lasindu Karunathilake said it was all about heart and determination.
“We knew they had the bigger, heavier set of forwards but we showed our hearts were bigger than theirs! We came with a plan to shut down the forwards and spread the ball wide when we had possession because we had the backline pace and it all worked. Everyone did their job.”
ThePapare.com Players of the Match – Lasindu Karunathilake & Dilan Silva
