Thomians pull off great win

by S. M. Jiffrey ABDEEN, Kandy Sports Corr. at Pallekelle

S. Thomas' College, Mount Lavinia pulled off a great 40 points (3 goals, 2 tries, 3 penalties) to 30 (1 goal, 4 tries, 1 penalty) win over Trinity College to win the Canon R. S. de Saram trophy and their schools under 19 Division 1 segment `A' rugby tournament match played at Trinity Rugby Stadium at Pallekelle yesterday. At half time Thomians led 20-13.

Rugby Lions and Trinity rugby captain of 1983 Byron Fernando was the chief and he distributed the awards.

The Trinitians ran into an early lead when in the 4th minute of play when centre Kanchana Ramanayake put over a 35-metre penalty.

But the Thomians hit back two minutes later when winger Anura Willawara scored mid right off a ruck and this went unconverted.

In the 13th minute centre Kanchana Ramanayake ahead with a 35-metre penalty. Trinity 6-5.

Trinity College forged further ahead in the 15th minute when skipper and hooker Damith Dissanayake scored far right following a forward rush. Ramanayake failed to add the extra points. Trinity 13-5.

In the 23rd minute Trinity were penalised for hands in the ruck and fly half Dervin Jayasinghe converted the penalty which was awarded.

S. Thomas 8-13.

It was that winger Anura Willawara again when collected the loose ball and ran about 35-meters to touch down under the post and Dervin Jayasinghe added the extra points and the Thomians wrested the lead 15-13.

Just before the lemons Thomian Centre Sherwin Kapuwatte made a breezy run to score far right. This try went unconverted. Thomian led 20-13 at half time.

Thomians continued their dominance on resumption when fly half Dervin Jayasinghe converted a penalty to make it 23-13.

In the 7th minute of the second half the Lions showed signs of clawing back to contention when their No. 8 Shenan Armstrong pounded his way to score far left to reduce the gap to 18-23. Minutes later another fine try by hooker Murad Ramzeen which went unconverted saw the Trinitians equalise 23 all.

But you cannot stop these gutty Thomians as they took over the lead again when they scored off hooker Anjula de Silva and Dervin Jayasinghe added the extra points and the Thoras led 30-23.

In the 23rd minute a Trinity player was penalised for "Killing the ball" and Dervin Jayasinghe converted the penalty to make it 33-23 in favour of the Thomians.

Trinity College fought back in the closing stages of the game when winger Mohamed Sheshan sprinted along to score mid right and Kanchana Ramanayake added the extra points to close the gap to Trinity College 30-33.

In the final stages of the game Anura Willawara rounded off a fine game with his third try of the match by scoring near the posts. Dervin Jayasinghe added the extra points.

D. Nimal referred.