Science College Mount Lavinia edged over St. Joseph’s College by 23-20 points in a close encounter in the Singer Schools League, Cup Championship at CR & FC grounds. Both teams needed a win to safeguard their place in the knockout championship as they were languishing in the bottom half of the points table.
Science fly-half Sahan Induranga kicked off the proceedings. Josephians paid the price for poor defending early on in the game as Science full back Prince Chamara scored a morale-boosting try for the visitors in the 1st minute of the game as the hard running Chamara had ample space to work with and ran 20 meters to score near the right corner flag. Ruvin Fernando missed the conversion. (Science 05 – Joes 00)
The boys from Darley road had more defending to do as they gave away possession with unforced errors. Science College played with lot of heart and determination early on as they piled on the pressure on the Josephians. Science extended their lead in the 18th minute of the game when their left wing three-quarter Harsha Kumara Sandaruwan touched down in the far corner after the forwards successfully gained ground by building a few phases from a ‘pick and go’ off the ruck. Ruvin Fernando failed to add the extra points.
(Science 10 – Joes 00)
After the end of the 1st quarter of the match, the Josephians finally found their feet and their hard working number 8 Suchintha Udumalagala burst through for a 20 meter run on the blind side to score their 1st try after flanker Taariq Salih stole the ball from a Science maul. Josephian first five-eighth Dulith Fernando bisected the uprights to add the extra points.
(Science 10 – Joes 07)
Both teams were guilty of losing possession due to infringements made in the breakdowns. Science backs were having a field day with amazing runs down the flank to test the character and the tackling ability of the hosts while Josephians looked dangerous as well with ball in hand as they attacked the Science defense line several times to gaining momentum and possession which they could not obtain in the first twenty minutes.
With only 5 minutes left for the half time whistle, Josephians entered the 22’ meter territory of their opposition half. Blind-side flanker Shehan Bopearachchi fended off a few Science defenders and scored a brilliant try to put the Maradana lads in the lead for the first time in the game. Dulith Fernando’s conversion was off target.
(Science 10 – Joes 12)
A kicking battle took place just before the half-time whistle as none of the teams added more points to their tally as referee Irshad Cader blew the half-time whistle to end an enthralling half of rugby.
Half Time: Science 10 – St. Joseph’s 12
After lemons, Josephian full back Shamilka Kurumbalapitiya restarted the game. Both teams were looking to execute their game plans with great concentration and put pressure in the set plays to gain control but both teams lost possession at vital stages of the game. Science College implemented the full man line out this evening compared to their three man lineout which they frequently used last week against Isipathana College and was rarely successful.
Science College playmaker Prince Chamara kicked his team back into the lead in the 50th minute of the game after Josephians were penalized for holding on to the ball in a ruck situation and Science full back made no mistake with the penalty kick. (Science 13 – Joes 12)
Rugby played by both teams was intense as they were hungry to win this crucial encounter. Bone-crushing and try saving tackles were made as Josephians regained their slim lead after an hour of classic rugby as Dulith Fernando fired across a 25 meter penalty kick after Science was penalized for defending in an offside position. (Science 13 – Joes 15)
Harsha Kumara Sandaruwan continued his try scoring form in the 66th minute as the 6 feet tall lanky wing three-quarter scored an enthralling try after seven attacking phases which finally broke the tight Josephian defense. Prince Chamara failed to convert. (Science 18 – Joes 15)
As the game progressed in the final ten minutes, both teams introduced fresh legs to replace the tired legs of especially some forwards. A few basic defensive errors were made by the host team, St. Joseph’s as the Science vice-captain Chathura Gomez brushed past tired defenders using his quick side-stepping skills to score their bonus points securing 4th try and extended their lead to 8 points. Chathura Gomez missed the conversion for his own try. (Science 23 – Joes 15)
Josephians needed something special to come back and win the game as the time ticked-on fast, 75 minutes with 2 tries needed to win. Josephians ‘never say die’ attitude worked exceptionally well as they started to trigger a superb late rally with wing-three quarter Romesh Priyankara also nick named as ‘Cheetah’ sprinted away to touch down near the right corner flag. Replacement fly-half Raveen Antonio missed the conversion. (Science 23 – Joes 20)
The Science camp was on pins in dying the stages of the game as their star winger Kavindu Malhara was yellow carded for obstructing the Josephian scrum-half Vimukthi Rahula from taking a quick tap and running towards the try line in the dying minutes of the game. Josephians steadily found their way into the Science 22’ meter territory and their forwards grinded hard to retain the ball and inch forward for a match winning try. Josephian hopes of a late comeback was shattered to pieces in the injury time of the game when referee Irshad Cader gave away a controversial ‘Red’ card to their flanker Taariq Salih for punching an opposition player though the Josephian denied punching a Science player and Josephians lost the possession and the game as Referee blew the long final whistle to end the game in favor of Science College as Josephians suffered their 6th loss in the current season.
Full Time: Science 23 – St. Joseph’s 20
ThePapare.com Player of the Match – Prasad Malinda (Science skipper/scrum-half)
