Trinity in an exciting 35-22 victory over Kingswood

By S. M. Jiffrey ABDEEN Kandy Sports Corr.

Trinity College, Kandy stamped their class when they scored a resounding 35 points (3 goals, 1 try, 3 penalties), to 22 (2 goals, 1 try, 1 penalty ) win over Kingswood College in their schools under 20 `A' Division rugby tournament match played at Pallekelle yesterday. At half the scores stood deadlocked at 22 all.

The Kingswoodians started off well even running a 15-0 lead at the initial stages of the game. They could not maintain the same pace in the period of play which followed especially in the second when they did hardly anything of aggressive nature. After a well contested invital 10 minutes of play, Kingswood College opened the scoring when fullback Rajitha Sansoniy Joined the three quarters to form the `overlap' and score far lift. Stand Roshan Weeraratne failed to add the extra points Kingswood 5-0.

Spurred by this success Kingswoodian kept the pressure on through their forwards supported by the backs.

In the 17th minute it was that full back Rajitha Sansoni who on receiving a reverse pass sticed through Trinity's defence to score mid right. Roshan Weeraratne added the extra points also converted a penalty later.

It was at this stage Trinity's fight back was seen with their forwards harassing Trinity defence time and again.

In the 24th minute Trinity won a line out inside their opponents `22' and scrum half Adeeb Hameed slang a pass to Shannon Armstrong who when challenged sent Wisvajith Wijesinghe to score mid left. Kennan Armstrong added the extra points.

Three minutes later came the best try of the match when Trinity Kennan Armstrong collected the loose ball and opted to run and with every step he gained momentum. He showed a clean pair of heels to no less than five defenders slipping tackles with a flazing 70 metre run to score under the posts. Despite the tiring run, he added the extra points Trinity had closed the gap 14 - 15.

Trinity took the lead on the 38th minute when Trinity won a scrum about 10 metres, from the'try line' and S. Nayakaratne scored mid right Armstrong failed to add the extra points.

But in the 40th minute Kingswood once again took over the lead when Uchith Jayasuriya scored mid right. Roshan Weeraratne added the extra points. Trinity got the equaliser during injury time of the first half when a Kingswood forward was spotted off side and Armstrong converted a 35 metre penalty.

In the fifth minute of the second half Trinity once again took over the lead when Kingswood's line was spotted off side and Armstrong backed over the penalty which was awarded..

Next twenty saw a ball in scoring with neither side scoring. In the 28th minute Trinity extended their lead through a 35 metre penalty put over by Armstrong. Trinity 28-22.

In the dying stages of the game the Armstrong brothers combination saw No. 8 Shannon Armstrong scoring mid left and Armstrong added the extra points. Kennan scored 17 points in the match. Nizam Jamaldeen refereed.