S.Thomas’ College Mt.Lavinia weathered a fierce late rally by the new comers to the A Division, Zahira College to walk away with 29 points to 24 victory in their Singer A Division league, Group B fixture worked off at Maradana this evening. S. Thomas’ were certainly the clear favorites coming into this game but it was not to be a ‘walk in the park’ as it turned out to be for them last week with the zahirians almost snatching the win during the dying moments of the game.
S.Thomas’ kicked off the day’s proceedings but it was not the start they would have expected with the kick not travelling the regulation 10 meters. From there onward it was the hosts who dominated the early exchanges with some enterprising play between the forwards and backs. The thomians to their credit were well organized in their defense from close range and after more than 10 phases managed to turn over the ball and drive the Zahirians back.
Having braved the initial burst by the hosts the thomians soon settled in to their own rhythm and started to cause the zahirian defense a few problems of their own. Thomian Fly half Hans Walpola sliced through the zahira defense in the 12th minute for an unconverted try. The lead however lasted only a few minutes with Zahira hitting back through a stunning try scored by their winger Yuzran Lantra. After a few pick and goes by the forwards the ball was sent out wide to Lantra who rocketed past the thomian defense before leaving stepping a couple of thomian defenders to score besides the posts. Fly half Zaid Sinhawansa’s conversion only managed to find the woodwork. (ZC 05 – STC 05)
The thomians however kept under things control sticking to their game plan and pining the hosts inside their own half. Their pressure was duly rewarded with S.G Mathangaweera and Skipper Naveen Henakankanamge scoring back to back tries. Hans Walpola managed to add the extras on one occasion as the visitors opened up a 12 point gap by the 30th minute. (ZC 05 – STC 19)
Zahira reduced the deficit in the 35th minute through their skipper Irfan Azhar who caught the thomian defense napping. Singhawansa put over the easy conversion to bring his team back into the game (ZC 12 – STC 17)
The 12 point lead however was restored just before the break with thomian prop forward Avishka Handunpathirana scoring near the right corner flag. Walpola’s conversion attempt was off target as the teams went into the break.
Half Time : Zahira 12 – S.Thomas’ 22
Many expected the home team to come out all cylinders firing from re-start but it was S.Thomas’ who scored in as early as the 44th minutes. The thomians using their big made forwards marched their way to the try line off a rolling maul with No.08 Cristian De Lile adding the finishing touches. Hans Walpola made a fine conversion attempt from a difficult angle to put his team in a commanding position. (ZC 12 – STC 29)
From their onward the game was played at a furious pace with Zahira playing an open game through their mobile forwards and speedy backs. After a few missed opportunities the hosts scored a try in the 60th minute through their play maker Zaid Singhawansa who crossed over the line after some hard work by his fellow team mates. The conversion was missed but the try gave Zahira a chance to get back into the game.(ZC 19 – STC 29)
With the game not closed out the thomians were determined to score another try to kill off any hopes of a comeback by the hosts and almost did through their forwards who were only a few meters away from the line. But against the run of play it was the hosts who went on to score and it was that man, Zaid Sinhawansa who grabbed the spotlight yet again. The ball was ripped off a thomian player almost right over their try line and the ball was passed to Singhwansa who broke free to score scorching try covering almost 70 meters. Singhwansa added the extras himself and with around 10 minutes left Zahira were right back in the game. (ZC 24 – STC 29)
With the backing of their supporters The hosts were all over the boys from Mt.lavinia who were defending for lives. another counter attack saw Zahira’s Yuzran Lantra going over the try line but was unfortunate as he stepped out of plat much to the relief of the thomians. During the last few minutes Zahira were only meters away from the try line with forwards trying their utmost to rumble over but unfortunately for them a match winning try never came as the thomians defended their goal line and snatch a thrilling win in the end.
Full Time : Zahira 24 – S.Thomas’ 29
Thepapare.com player of the match: Zaid Singhawansa (Zahira College)
Score break down
Zahira College 24 (12)
Tries: Zaid Singhawansa (2) Irfan Azhar, Yuzran Lantra
Coversions: Zaid Singhawansa (2)
S.Thomas’ College 29 (22)
Tries: Hans Walpola, S.G Mathangaweera, Naveen Henakankanamge, Avishka Handunpathirana, Cristian De Lile
Coversions: Hans Walpola (2)
