St. John’s College Nugegoda produced a superb display to qualify for the Milo Knockouts Chairman’s trophy final with a 29-5 triumph over a disappointing St. Thomas’ College Matale outfit at the Royal Complex.
St. John’s were utterly dominant with possession in the opening quarter and deservedly moved into a 5-0 lead through a T. Lakshith try in the early exchanges. (SJC 05-00 STM)
S.Thomas then responded for the Matale outfit, on the stroke of the quarter hour mark, but it did not inspire a boost in morale. Kumara Dharmasena went over the whitewash after a lovely wrap around with the fly-half as the number 8 broke off the back of a scrum to hand the fly half the ball. (SJC 05-05 STM)
From then on the lineouts went astray, knocks-on were rife and, in a match that were composed in everything, the visitors quickly found themselves falling behind.
On the brink of the half time whistle St. John’s went over again for their second try. The number 8 was in the thick of things again breaking away and sucking in a few defenders before passing it on to his lock D.Nimantha who crashed over. (SJC 10-05 STM)
Half Time: St. John’s College 10(2T) – 05(1T) St. Thomas’ College Matale
St. John’s College started the second half in similar fashion to how they finished the first and shortly after the restart T.Lakshitha stunned the home crowd when he rounded off in the left-hand side corner. This came after a superb line break from the center and an excellent final pass from the scrum half in the build-up. A. Praboda added the extras, making this the first successful kick of the game. (SJC 17-05 STM)
In the 51st minute, the Thomian number 08 lost the ball in contact and B.Karunanayake booted the ball ahead before gathering and crossing the whitewash. A.Praboda added the extras from under the posts. (SJC 17-05 STM)
The home side struck back again through A.Mihiran when the forwards combined brilliantly to create space for the winger, who beat the defense with some deft footwork before crossing in the right-hand side corner for the final try of the game. (SJC 17-05 STM)
The referee brought the game to a rest courtesy of a forced knock-on just as the Thomians from Matale were looking to score.
Full Time: St. John’s College 29(5T 2C)-05(1T) St. Thomas College Matale
Score Breakdown
St. John’s College
- T.Lakshitha (2T)
- A.Mihiran (1T)
- D.Nimantha (1T)
- B.Karunanayake (1T)
- A.Praboda (2C)
St. Thomas’ College
- Kumara Dharmasena (1T)
