Revaan Tissera scores twice as S. Thomas’ College defeated rivals St. Joseph’s College 24-22 in the Dialog Schools Rugby League game played at CR & FC as the Thomians’ regained the Lady Jayathilake Shield following a lapse of 3-years.
The Josephian’s made two changes in the forwards as Shenal Abeysekara and Sachintha Nirmal came in for Susath Weliwitagoda and Manesh Senarathna as Cheka Jayawardena moved to the locking position as Gershom Thangiah started at number 08. Meanwhile, Sudaraka Dewappriya missed out due to concussion as Isuru Kanchana started on the wing.
Jordan Fernando and Ejeaz Kariapper made the run-on XV for the visitors as a raft of positional changes took place in the backline with Ovin Hettiarchchi moving to five-eighth as Jaan De Zoysa started at fifteen and Arvindha Rekawa moving to the wing.
The lads from Maradana were third time lucky in the early exchanges as Cheka Jayawardena found himself crashing over from the tail of the maul as the Josephian chanced their arm early on in the game. Rashane Gonawardena failed with the extras. (SJC 05-00 STC)
The visitors found their feet following the early exchanges and scored similarly to their opponents as there was nothing to separate the two sides.
Revaan Tissera was the beneficiary this time for the Thomians’ as the big prop forward crashed over the white-wash to score for the visitors. This time it was Jaan De Zoysa’s turn to fail with the extras as neither fullback was able to find their range off the tee. (SJC 05-05 STC)
A game dominated by forwards took a massive turn as the Josephians came to the party to score and regain the lead in an end-to-end affair.
The inside centre Richira Ekanayake was the lad to get his name on the scoresheet as the youngster who put on his skate shoes to step the onrushing defender to score beside the post. Gunawardena seemed to forget his kicking boots as the fullback failed to add valuable extras. (SJC 10-05 STC)
The lead changed hands this time thanks to Sakith Perera as the nippy halfback found his way to the try line. De Zoysa added the extras from close range as the Thomians took the lead for the first time in the game. (SJC 10-12 STC)
Moments later Teran Karunanayake was sent to the bin for a senseless tackle on his opposite number as the Josephian Centre Kung-fu slammed his opponent.
The Josephian defence held firm despite the disadvantage and had an opportunity to round the half with a score, however, a fumble from Gunawardena meant the hosts went into the shed trailing by the narrowest of margins.
Half Time: St. Joseph’s College 10 (2T) trail S. Thomas’ College 12 (2T 1C)
Gunawardena made immense for his error late on in the first half as he opened the scoring in the second half for the Josphians regained the lead in the game as the Captain scored off a base of the scrum.
Mohamed Riffan added the extras — first of the evening — as the lead changed hands once again in a topsy-turvy affair at Longdon Place. (SJC 17-12 STC)
The hosts saw through the sin-bin period without conceding, however, a second yellow card of the game, this time for inside centre Richira Ekanayake proved to be costly as the home team was made to pay for their indiscipline.
Visiting five-eighth Ovin Hettiarchchi measured a pin-point accurate cross-kick, landing the ball in the hands of Rehan Olugala as the winger landed in-goal to score his teams third of the evening. De Soyza’s conversion went astray, however, the visitors continued to stay in touching distance as the game entered the money end. (SJC 17-17 STC)
De Soyza’s evening off the boot went from bad to worse as the fullback missed a comfortable penalty from in-front as the game continued to be level on the scoreboard.
The Josephians grabbed the initiative, following the failed attempts off the tee as Mohomed Riffan scored after Gunawardena made a line break, handing the Josephians the bonus point try of the game and putting them in the driving. Gunawardena failed to add the gloss on the try, as he missed yet another kick off the tee. (SJC 22-17 STC)
The Josephians failed to clear their lines following the score, as the Thomians’ pilled pressure on the hosts, managing to score 6-phases later through Revaan Tissera to leave the game on a knife-edge going into the final few minutes. Sakith’s converted the crucial 4th Thomian try, as the visitors took a 2-point lead in the game. (SJC 22-24 STC)
Hosts St. Joseph’s rallied and threw the kitchen sink at their opponent, managing to get over the line after the hooter but failing to ground the ball as the home team endured their second loss in as many weeks, leaving the coaches with plenty to ponder heading into week three.
Full Time: St. Joseph’s College 22 (4T 1C) lost to S. Thomas’ College 24 (4T 2C)
Dialog Viu Player of the Match: Cheka Jayawardena (SJC Lock Forward)
Points Breakdown:
St. Joseph’s: Cheka Jayawardena 1T, Ruchira Ekanayake 1T Rashane Gunawardena 1T, Mohomad Riffan 1T 1C.
Cautions: Terna Karunanayke Yellow Card, Ruchira Ekanayake Yellow Card
S. Thomas’: Revanka Tissera 2T, Sakith Perera 1T 1C, Jaan De Zoysa 1C, Rehan Olugala 1T
