Peterites retain Archibald Perera Trophy for third successive year

by Ranjan Anandappa

RUGBY: St. Peter's retained the Archibald Perera Memorial trophy for the third year in succession with an unimpressive 23 points (4 tries, 1 penalty) to 15 (1 goal, 1 try, 1 penalty) win over S.Thomas' in their school rugger match played at Bambalapitiya yesterday.

The pre-match expectation of a keenly contested match wasn't to be as both teams did not play to their true potential. The Thomians after their last week's win over Trinity should have had the cutting edge, but the Peterite held sway even playing with lack of cohesion most of the time.

Both sets of forwards matched each other at the initial stages of the game, but lost steam during the latter part of the match. The Thomian scrum half Asela de Livera Tennekoon stood out for his side playing exceptionally well in attack and defence and providing the execellent link.

The Thomians opened scoring in the second minute of the game through a penalty put over by Malith Thammanagama.

The Peterites forged ahead when winger Gerard Canute scored at the left corner and Harsha Weerakkody missed the conversion.

The Thomians then scored the best try of the match when scrum half Asela de Livera tennekoon got the break from one of the Thomian forwards and evaded three defenders and covered over forty metres to socre. Thammanagama gave them the extra points.

The Peterites took a 13-10 lead at the breather Thilan Bulner scored off a third phase move on the blind side and Weerakkody put over a penalty.

On resumption the Petes scored two unconverted tries both by centre Dilshan Paul and the Thomians touched down through Niluk Wickrematileka, Peterites won the junior game 5-3.

Nizam Jamaldeen refereed.