Trinity in 29-22 win over Petes

By S.M.Jiffrey Abdeen- Kandy Sports correspondent

Trinity College Kandy pulled off a great 29 points (three goals, one try, one penalty ) to 22 (two goals, one rtry, one penalty) win over St. Peter's College Bambalapitiya in their Schools Under-20 Singer Shield Rugby Tournament match played at Pallekele yesterday. At half time Trinity College led 12-5.

With this win the Trinity lions kept their chances alive in keeping their chances in winning the league title which will depend on the outcome of today's Kingswood-Isipathana clash at CR and FC grounds, Colombo. If the Kingswoodians win then Trinity will be the champs otherwise the Pathans will be the champions.

The Trinitians were very lucky to win this match as the Peterites fought back tenaciously in the second half and the scores were level till the last minute of play.

Trinity College took an early lead when winger Direndra Ratwatte gave the finishing touches to a three quarter move to score righrt and skipper and fly half Tharinda Ratwatte failed to add the extra points.

St. Peter's College equalized through a brilliant try by centre Shamry Burah.

A little before the short blast, Trinity's no.8 Isuru Rangala pounded his way to score near the posts and Tharinda Ratwatte added the extra points for the lions to lead 12-5.

In the 10th minute of the second half, Trinity's fly half Tharinda Ratwatte collecting the ball from the ruck sprinted away to score near the posts and added the extra points himself for the lions to extend their lead to 19-5.

A knock forward by a Trinity play saw centre Shamry Burah converting a penalty for thre Peterites to reduce the lead to 8-19.

A penalty converted by Tharinda Ratwatte saw the lions move on to 22- 8.

Then came the great fight back by the Peterites when a kick ahead by full back Saranga Gunatillake was collected clean by Dixon Perera who sliced through the Lions defence to score under the posts. Centre Shamry Burah qdded the extra points. St Peter's 15-22.

Next it was the turn of centre Shamy Burah to score when he brushed past at least three defenders to score midright and added the extra point himself for the Peterites to draw level at 22-all.

With the game drifting into the final stage and it was left to Trinity's burly prop Anuradha Karunathilaka to score off a scrum mid right and Tharinda Ratwatte added the extra points.

Priyantha Gunaratne refereed.