A try fest and a defensive masterclass from Trinity gets them past their home town rivals St. Anthony’s, as they book a spot in the Quarter Finals of the Dialog Schools’ Rugby Knockout Championship 2025.
The Trinitians swung the ball from side to side in the early stages of the game. Bilaal Nazeer went over to score Trinity’s first try of the game and season after some slick hands down the backline.
Shan Althaf missed the conversion from the left hand side touch line. (TCK 05 – 00 SACK)
Trinity got an opportunity to add 3 points a few minutes later, as the Anthonian Scrum Half was penalized for not releasing the player after tackling him. Althaf knocked over the penalty from 30m out to extend Trinity’s lead. (TCK 08 – 00 SACK)
The Anthonians looked to threaten the Trinity defense on multiple occasions, before the Trinity Lock Forward Achintha Jayasena was sent to the bin for a high tackle.
Although they were a man down, Trinity’s Prop Manusha Silva produced arguably the Try of the Week as he stepped past 5 defenders and ran almost 50m to score a try of individual brilliance.
Althaf added the extras to extend Trinity’s lead. (TCK 15 – 00 SACK)
Trinity was quick to capitalize on a knock forward from their opponents, as they went over for their 3rd score of the evening. Scrum Half Udan Wijekoon had a quick snipe catching the Anthonian defense napping around the fringes.
An under the post conversion from Shan Althaf took Trinity comfortably ahead of their home town rivals. (TCK 22 – 00 SACK)
Trinity’s forwards were next to join the party. A well orchestrated driving maul saw Evin Jayasena going over to score a try just at the brink of half time. Despite the difficult angle, Althaf added the 2 points to go into the break with a huge lead.
Half Time : Trinity College 29 (4T 3C 1P) lead St. Anthony’s College 00
After the turn around, it was Trinity who kept on adding to their tally of tries. Although Trinity Winger Minula Yaddehige had little to no space to work, he evaded the Anthonian defender to open the scoring in the second half. The extras were added as well.(TCK 36 – 00 SACK)
Trinity scored their second try off of a driving maul a few minutes later. A transfer from the front to the back of the lineout from the Trinity Forwards caught the Anthonians napping as Hamza Abdeen went over for a try. Althaf continued his good day off the tee to make it a 7 pointer. (TCK 43 – 00 SACK)
The try fest continued from Trinity. The Trinity Fly half Abdul Malik took the ball right up to the Antho defense and stood them up before finding Yaddehige who ran a beautiful line through the back door. Trinity hit their half century as Althaf put over the conversion. (TCK 50 – 00 SACK)
For all their efforts in attack, St. Anthony’s finally got themselves over the try line to score their only try of the game. A busting run from the replacement prop forward Senaratne saw them opening their account in the 60th minute of the game. The conversion went astray. (TCK 50 – 05 SACK)
Trinity replied back with two tries in the final minutes of the game. Avishka Jayasekara came off the bench for the Lions and injected some pace to the game to score a try off of a quick tap and to put Minula Yaddehige over for his 3rd try.
A masterclass in defense from Trinity, and a few moments of brilliance in attack saw them storm their way into the Quarter Final.
Full Time : Trinity 62 (9T 7C 1P) beat St. Anthony’s 05 (1T)
Swisstek Player of the Match: Minula Yaddehige (Trinity)
Points Breakdown-
Trinity College : Shan Althaf 17 Points (7C, 1P), Minula Yaddehigge 15 points (3T), Manusha Silva 5 Points (1T), Bilaal Nazeer 5 Points (1T), Udan Wijekoon 5 Points (1T), Evin Jayasena 5 Points (1T), Hamza Abdeen 5 Points (1T), Awishka Jayasekara 5 Points (1T)
St. Anthony’s: M Senaratne 5 Points (1T)
Yellow card : Trinity (Achintha Jayasena)
