St Peter’s College met St Anthony’s College Kandy today at the Ratmalana Airforce rugby grounds in what was both team’s first encounter of the 2013 campaign.
The flood gates burst open from the very beginning as the Peterites displayed their famed dominance in open center field play. A 50 (7T, 6C, 1P) to 12 (2T, 1C) score line opened the campaign for the Petes, SACK managing just 12.
The scoring of was open by the hefty Peterite inside center Dilanka Perera who cut through a desperate Antonian defense whilst go- to man with the boot, Jerome Canute made no mistake with the conversion. The home team Petes kept to their attacking pattern of play displaying well coordinated support play which led to the second try of the evening (not long after the first) again scored by Dilanka Perera who managed to trot around a bewildered Antonian defense while Jerome again set the conversion sailing through the posts.
A good progression of phases later “crafty” Peterite full back Kevin executed a well placed punt in to abandoned Anthonian space resulting in a try scored by wing three-quarter Akila Ranchagoda who shortly managed to blaze the field for his second touchdown of the evening . The Peterite eight man Anuradha Herath who had an outstanding game also managed to find his way in to the score sheet alongside Kevin Dexon. The conversion of which, Jerome having a sunny day with the boot – missed. This was his only blemish taking a staggering tally of 6 conversions out of 7.
The Kandy lads who managed to complete a string of support play scored their first try through Hooker skipper Yakoob Ali which was converted by P L S Hemantha. By lemons the Peterites had amassed a mammoth score of 43 points to SACK 7.
The Anothonians came in to the second half with a rejuvenated sense of defiance as they feld wave after wave of relentless Peterite advances at bay. The Antonians employed a high risk prone strategy where the they sought to run the ball from the from inside their own 22 meter line where the slightest mistake would allow the Peterites to capitalize and convert pressure into points.
An invigorating second half in the latter stage was adorned with a sizeable display of cardinal errors as both teams displayed a case of “butter fingers” Anotonian Hooker Ali managed to rupture the home side defense to score his second try of the evening however it was not nearly enough to douse the Peterite flame.
The Peterites would ride on their rightfully earned moral boost from a blazing first game victory whilst the “eagles” would have to reconsider their approach and strategies as the 2013 rugby season which is bound to be a rollercoaster ride of enthralling encounters
