So close, yet so far for Wesley as Peterites book their place in another final

Defending champions St. Peter’s College locked horns with Wesley College today (07th of September) in the 1st Semi Final of the Dialog Schools Rugby Knockouts 2024 at the Royal Complex in a game that went right down the wire as the Peterites registered a very close 23-20 victory to book their place in another final.

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Just few minutes into the game Wesley College received a penalty from kickable distance and Abdul Haadhi was asked to kick it through by the skipper which he did successfully to give the early lead to the Double Blues (SPC 00 – 03 WC)

Their lead didn’t last long as St. Peter’s College managed to hit back with a try from their halfback Salith Gallage who sniped through the Wesley College defence. Raul Peter added the extra points for the defending champions (SPC 07 – 03 WC)

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Wesley College then entered the St. Peter’s half through a penalty and a territory-gaining kick. From the line-out that followed they managed to gain some metres and the Double Blues scrum half Adeeb Yooseph found space right through the defence of St. Peter’s and some lovely stepping away from a defender was enough for him to go all the way. The conversion unfortunately didn’t go over but the lead was back with Wesley College (SPC 07 – 08 WC)

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However Wesley College conceded penalties at regular intervals in the remainder of the 2nd half as St. Peter’s College decided to go for points in two of the penalties from kickable distance as Peter kicked through both of them to get the lead back and increase it up to 5 points going into lemons (SPC 13 – 08 WC)

Half-Time : St. Peter’s College 13 – 08 Wesley College

The 2nd half began with Wesley College making inroads deep into the opposition half. But the Peterite defence stood strong and didn’t let them go over the line. After some good defending the turnover finally arrived and Vishenka Silva found ample space from the left of the field to go all the way for a coast to coast try. Wesley College were caught off guard by the turnover as they were focused on scoring the try and completely left the field open for Silva to run through. Peter converted the try once again as their lead increased to 12 points (SPC 20 – 08 WC)

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Wesley’s situation went from bad to worse as they conceded another penalty inside their own half and St. Peter’s skipper Dulaj Nawodya opted to go for the points once again. Peter had not trouble whatsoever to kick it over and further increase their buffer (SPC 23 – 08 WC)

Going into the last 15 minutes Wesley College needed something special and they found that when Kaveesha Dilhara recovered a loose ball from Vishenka Silva inside the Peterite 22m line and dived over for the try. Pawan Thiranagama then found the whitewash for Double Blues to take them even closer as the forwards did an exceptional job to hit hard and gain metres into the St.Peter’s half. Only the latter try was converted by Haadhi (SPC 23 – 20 WC)

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Wesley College came ever so close to the whitewash in the dying minutes of the game and even received around 3 penalties but the St. Peter’s defensive line stood firm like a wall and they were unable to penetrate it. They were just inches short from ending the phenomenal unbeaten run of the Bamba Brigade but ultimately fell short. Raul Peter’s kicking game made a huge difference in this clash and he was adjudged NDB Bank Player of the Match. St Peter’s College will now have to wait and see which team out of Isipathana College and S. Thomas’ College would face them in the finals.

Full Time : St. Peter’s College 23 (2T 2C 3P) defeated Wesley College 20 (3T 1C 1P)

NDB Bank Player of the Match : Raul Peter (SPC)

St. Peter’s College : Raul Peter 13 Points (2 Conversions 3 Penalties), Vishenka Silva 5 Points (1 Try), Salith Gallage 5 Points (1 Try)

 

Wesley College : Abdul Haadhi 5 Points (1 Conversion 1 Penalty), Adeeb Yooseph 5 Points (1 Try), Kaveesha Dilhara 5 Points (1 Try), Pawan Thiranagama 5 Points (1 Try)