The second match of the President Trophy 2014 was played between St.Peter`s College, Colombo-04 and Science College, Mount Lavinia at Royal College, Sports Complex. It was a much needed victory for the Mount Lavinia boys after the defeat they suffered in their den the last time these two teams locked horns.
Scoring two goals and two tires during the eighty minutes of play Science College shocked the Peterites. At full time the scoreboard read in favour Science 24-22.
Science kicked off proceedings and played attacking rugby from the start and was building pressure right from the word go. The continuity they showed in their rugby brought value during the fifth minute of the game. The Peterites, left their half unguarded allowing Science to capitalize on the space available at the back to score. Science skipper Gomez taking full advantage of the situation stole the ball from the offensive team, touched down to draw first blood. Conversion failed. (SC – 05 SPC -00)
Both the teams were taking time to settle their nerves in the game as both teams committed unforced errors. Science was playing attacking rugby and it was constantly testing the defence of the Bamabalpitiya lads. There were no signs of a try until the twenty eighth minute of the game when the Peterites followed with an equaliser. Ranesh Fernando scored for the Petes when they led themselves back in to playing basic rugby working the line which they should have attempted at the early stages. (SC -05 SPC -05)
Petes settled down with a positive mind-set right after the equaliser but the Science defence was right up on to the collar. The clearance kick from Sandesh Jayawickrama landed in the safe hands of home team defender inside the thirty fifth minute of the game. But Ranesh Fernando dashing in from the corner collected the ball off the hands of the defender and scored his second try for the game when defenders were just spectators of his pace. The ball bisected the uprights and Petes led the game. (SC-05 SPC -12)
The counter-attack from the home team was of high standards and the visitors were not defensively able to contain it. Just three minutes after the Pete try Science No. 08 Karunathilke scored off a rolling maul right under the post when he took three defenders on with him to the try line. The conversion squared the scoreboard. Though the Petes settled their nerves down they failed to play their usual game. Their defence fell apart when Viraj scored off a try to take the lead off the home team off a turnover ball and the conversion from Singhe took the game away from the hands of the visitors for the first phase of the game when the two teams left the field for a breather. (SC -19 SPC – 12)
Half Time – Science College – 19 St. Peter`s College -12
It was a crucial break for St. Peter`s who were trying their best to find flow. However the defenders opened up the second phase with a high note having the lead in their fingertips. Changing strategies the Pete`s played a different game during the first few minutes of the second phase of the game when they closed down the gap for just four points when Burah`s boots bisected the uprights for a penalty awarded. (SC -19 SPC -15)
Bamabalapitiya lads were given tons of chances to get the lead back but failed due to the inconsistency shown in their set pieces. Almost all the line outs were won by the home team and although the Petes kept attacking the Science defence resisted well. Unnecessary cut out passes were thrown by the Petes which was indeed an aspect of the game that let them down. After many errors Diyath Fernando collected the ball off a sloppy basketball type pass from Burah but was lucky enough to cover the ground due to the overlap conceded by the defence. The conversion helped the visitors to lead the game reliving lost hopes. (SC -19 SPC -22)
Petes failed resist the counter attack and the same repeated during the second half of the game. The game was in the hands of the Bambalapitiya lads with just three minutes to run down in the clock. The Science lads played good rugby making sure that they play the fundamentals right waiting for the opponents to make the mistake. The turnover ball from the visitors was fed in to the home team line and Singhe made no mistake in sealing the game for them during the last minute of the game. Though the conversion failed the try took the game out of reach for the Petes. (SC -24 SPC-22)
Both Peterite defence and offence was poor in standard in comparison to the past games and was an uncharacteristic performance by the Peterites. Science on the other hand was on the ball right from the word go and earned themselves an opportunity to grab the trophy on offer.
Full time – Science College – 24 St. Peter`s College -22
ThePapare Player of the match – R.S.P.C Singhe (Science College)
Refereed by –Pardeep Fernando
