President's Trophy Rugby: St. Peter's beat Antonians to enter final
by Ranjan Anandappa
League champions St.Peter's reserved a berth in the President's
Trophy final when they beat St.Anthony's (Katugastota) by 30 points
(four tries, one goal and a penalty) to 14 (two goals) in the first semi
final of the Milo Schools President's Trophy Knock out Rugger tournament
at the Royal College Sports Complex yesterday.
The Peterites defeated the Anthonians by one point to clinch the
league title in Kandy. But it was a completely different story yesterday
as the Antonians wilted under pressure and went down without much
resistance particularly in the second half. However, the Kandy school
crossed the Peterite line twice through the powers of fly half
Krishantha Rajapakse and Roshan Wijesiri but their efforts were totally
insufficient to bridge the gap with the Peterites going on a rampage in
the second half.
With the half time scores 8\0 for the Peterites, one would have
thought that the Antonians could hit back . But the Peterites got their
act together with their forwards and back division combining effectively
and completely rattled their opponents and plant four tries in the
second half.
The winners opened scoring in the eleventh minute when Harsha
Weerakkody put over a penalty. The Peterites would have got onto an
early lead ,but they missed two possible scoring chances due to bad ball
handling. But winger Gerard Canute extended the lead scoring an
unconverted try for the Petes.
After the turn over there were six tries scored, four by the
Peterites and two by the Antonians in a session that swung either way a
bit. But the Peterites dominated the the proceedings with a superior
team effort as the Antonians lost their way.
There were two fine efforts by Peterite Gerard Canute who covered
over fifty meters to score and Antonian Krishantha Rajapakse did a
similar run to give the Antonians their second try.
Winger Gerard Canute (2), Prop Arjuna Bopitiya, Flanker Purnaka
Delpachitra and winger Viduranga Karunaratne were the other try scorers.
For the losers Fly half Krishantha Rajapakse and Roshan Wijesiri scored
a try each. Wijesiri put over the convertions.
The Peterites will now meet the winners of today's game between
Isipathana and Kingswood to be played at the Royal College Sports
Complex grounds.
Aruna Jayasekera refereed.
Bens trounced
Mahanama beat St. Benedict's by 50 points (Five goals, three tries)
to 10 (Two tries) in the Premier Trophy Schools knock out rugger
tournament at the Royal College Sports Complex grounds yesterday.
The winners led 19-5 at the breather. The tries scorers for the
winners were Damith Priyanga (2), Sahan Anurudha (2), Ramesh Gunawardena
(2), Nawal Meedin and Mahesh Gunawardena one each. Clyde Gabriel and
Damith Abrew scored for the Bens. Mahanama will meet the winners of
today's game between Nalanda and Piliyandala Central at the same venue. |