Thomians regain De Saram Shield with 29-15 win over Trinity

By Sajeewa Jayakody

S Thomas’ College Mount Lavinia regained the Canon RS de Saram Shield with a smashing 29 points (two goals, five penalties) to 15 (one goal, one try, one penalty) win over Trinity College Kandy in their annual inter-school rugby encounter played at Havelock Park yesterday after leading 13-10 at the breather.

It was a marvellous display by the Thomians, who are playing in Segment One ‘B’ Division of the schools Singer League Under-19 Rugby Tournament to beat the more fancied Trinity College, who were unbeaten upto yesterday.

It was the Trinitians who opened the scoring through an unconverted try by prop forward S Ethulgama. A few minutes later the Thomians reduced the deficit when fly half Devin Jayasinghe fired across a 25-metre penalty.

The Trinitians increased their lead when flanker Umesh Samarasekara scored a try with fly half Tharinda Ratwatte adding the extra points and Trinity led 10-3.

A few minutes later, the lads from Mount Lavinia hit back when off a three-quarter move winger Reza Ibrahim scored by the corner flag. Devin Jayasinghe made a splendid conversion and scores read 10-all.

On the stroke of half time, Thomians skipper Devin Jayasinghe made no mistake with a 25-metre penalty to make it 13-10 in favour of S Thomas’ at lemons.

In the second minute of the second half the Thomians went ahead further when Devin Jayasinghe fired across a 25-metre penalty (Thomians 16-10).

Eighteen minutes later, Devin Jayasinghe fired across a 25-metre penalty from a difficult angle to give the Thomians a 19-10 lead.

The Trinitians hit back when fly half Tharinda Ratwatte scored near the post. But winger Santhana Sheik missed the conversion. (Thomians 19-15)

Then the Thomians took control of the game when skipper Devin Jayasinghe put over a 25-metre penalty to make it 22-15.

In the dying stages of the game, Thomian centre Harshana Senanayake scored a brilliant try near the post to give Devin Jayasinghe an easy kick at goal and the Thomians ran out worthy winners by 29 points to 15.

Skipper Devin Jayasinghe played a great game for the Thomians contributing 19 points firing across five penalties and adding the extra points to both tries.

Dimithra Gunasekara refereed.