St. Sylvester's win over Vidyartha after 12 years
 

By S. M. Jiffrey Abdeen - Kandy Sports Corr.

St. Sylvester's College, Kandy scored an emphatic 12 points (1 goal, 1 try) to 7 (1 goal) win over their traditional rivals Vidyartha College in their inter-school rugby match played at Nittawela yesterday.

At 'lemons', the Sylvestrians were in command leading 12-0. The Sylvestrians who won over their traditional rivals after a lapse of 12 years, started the game in a furious fusion, excelling in the rucks and mauls and their three-quarters had a terrific game.

They would have scored if not for some fierce tackling by Vidyartha.

The Sylvestrians started their scoring mid-way in the first half when Ruchira Godamuna gave the finishing touches to a three-quarter movement with a piercing 40-metre run to touch down by the left corner flag for an unconverted try. The Sylvestrians scored again in the 23rd minute when their full back Vishvabage Jayatillake intercepted a pass inside their '22' and made a blazing 80-metre run and on being challenged, slipped a pass to centre Mohamed Jaleel who had to run just 5-metres to plant a try-near the posts. Winger R. G. Asanga added the extra points.

But in the second half, Vidyartha put up a better display by not only stopping the Sylvestrians but also reduced the gap.

They came close to scoring on several occasions but could not penetrate their opponents' defence. Midway on being awarded a penalty, they opted for a scrum and No. 8 Buddhika Abeysinghe pounded his way to score mid-left. Flyhalf Chanaka Chandimal added the extra points.

But thereafter there was no scoring with the defences of both teams holding on.Chandima Amadoru refereed.