Joes retain Lady Jayatileke Shield
By Ranjan ANANDAPPA
St. Joseph's retained the Lady Jayatileke Challenge Shield when they
beat S. Thomas' by 37 points (6 tries, 1 goal) to (3 goals and 1 try) in
their Singer Under-19 Schools Rugby encounter at Longden Place
yesterday. The winners led 22/14 a the breather.
In match that swung from side to side, the Joes powerful set of
forwards made the difference as they dominated well supported by their
back division who got the best out of the hard work done by their
forwards spearheaded by their skipper and Number 8 Yohan Keyzer. The
Thomians were completely rattled by the Joes heavy set of forwards and
could do nothing to stop their daring advances in their territory.
However, the Thomians too struck vital blows from time to time when ever
the match was going beyond their reach. But their efforts were simply
not enough to put the brakes to the Joes forwards play with their heavy
pack.
It was the Thomians who opened scoring in the 8th minute through
winger Danoj de Silva, Devin Jayasinghe added the extra points. Minutes
later Joes scored off a Jason Melder push over try which went
unconverted.
The Joes scored two more tries through fly half Rehan Thiyagarajah
and S. Kurubulapitiya. The Thomians also struck back through Number 8
Nasheed Zainudeen and Devin Jayasinghe put over the conversion.
After the turn around the Joes forwards were at full strength and
went on to plant three more tries through Jason Melder, Yohan Keyzer and
Shehan de Silva. For the Thomians Devin Jayasinghe and Danoj de Silva
were the other try scorers.
Referee: Gamini Indrasena.
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