Joes in stunning 24-12 win over Antonians

By S. M. Jiffrey ABDEEN - Kandy Sports Correspondent

Kingswood College, St. Josephs College, Isipathana Maha Vidyalaya and St. Peters College entered the cup semi-finals of schools segment of Singer SriLankan Airlines Rugby Sevens organised by Kandy Sports Club and worked off at the Nittawela Rugby Stadium in Kandy yesterday. This tournament continues today at 11.20 a.m.

In the first semi-final to be played at 11.20 a.m. giant killers St. Joseph’s College will take on Kingswood College and at 11.40 a.m. defending champions Isipathana Maha Vidyalaya will take on St. Peter’s College at 11.40 in a match worthy of a final.

St. Joseph’s College created the biggest upset of the day when they defeated the strong St. Anthony’s College by 24 points (2 goals, 2 tries) to 12 (1 goal, 1 try). At half time Isipathana led 12-0.

The Josephians surprised the Antonians with two early tries scored through winger Naveen Abeyratne and hooker Dilan Rambukwella with centre Shanaka Pietersz goalling one of them.

Prop Benuka Hegoda put the Josephian in the driving seat with two tries and Shanaka Pietersz adding the extra points to one of them.

The Antonians fight back came only in the last five minutes of the second half when they were able to score two tries in quick succession through centre Amila Bandara and winger Gunaratne with scrum half Imad Reyal adding the extra points. But by them the Josephians had sealed victory.

In the first quarter final Kingswood College were rocked by their traditional rivals Dharmaraja College before posting a close 5 points (1 try) to nil victory. At half time Kingswood led 5-0.

It was truly a gutty performance by the Rajans who tackled hard. Full back Rajitha Sansoni scored the winning try for Kingswood College and this went unconverted.

In the third quarter final the defending champions Isipathana Maha Vidyalaya scored an easy 31 points (3 goals, 2 tries) to 5 (1 try) win over Wesley College. At half time Isipathana led 19-0.

For Isipathana Wishvajith Jayasinghe (2 tries) and scrum half Srinath Suriyabandara (3 tries) scored and goalled 2 tries and the other was put over by centre Dinosha Chathuranga. For Wesley prop Dulanjaya Wijesinghe scored an unconverted try.

Last of the cup quarter finals resulted in St. Peters College scoring a runaway 28 points (4 goals) to 5 (1 try) win over Royal College.

At lemons St. Peters led 14-0.

Try scorers for St. Peter’s College were winger Gerard Canute (1), hooker Poornaka Delpachithra (2) and prop Harsha Weerakoddy (1) with fly half Banuka Nanayakkara goalling all 4 tries. For Royal prop Hasitha Bandaranayake scored the solitary try which went unconverted.

Earlier in the day St. Sylvesters College and Ananda College entered the finals of the Bowl Championship. Ananda College squeezed through to a 15-14 win over Vidyartha College and St. Sylvester’s College beat Nalanda 12-10 with the winning try coming in the last one.

Priyantha Gunaratne, Pradeep Fernando, Aruna Rankothge and Irshad Cader refereed the above matches.