Antonians scrape through against Rajans

by S. M. Jiffrey Adbeen -Kandy Sports Correspondent

St Anthony’s College Kandy fluttered, floundered and recovered before posting a 31 points (two goals, one try, four penalties) to 23 (one goal, two tries, two penalties) win over Dharmaraja College in their schools Under 19 Division One segment ‘A’ rugby tournament match played at the Bogambara Stadium, Kandy yesterday. At half time the Antonians led 22-8.

The Antonians playing bustling rugby started off in a flourish and with the game barely 15 minutes old they were leading 19-0. They scored tries through flanker Pasindu Dilshan (one), flanker Dinesh Rodrigo (one) and lock forward Mohammed Shabeer. Two of them were goalled by fly half Kumara Maduwantha.

The try scored by Shabeer was virtually a gift when the Rajans defence was caught napping. A penalty kick at goal taken by Antonian fly half Kumara Maduwantha fell short and lock forward Mohammed Shabeer was on the loose ball and planted a try under the post.

But the Rajans hit back late in the first half through a try by Tharindu Wijesinghe and a penalty put over by full back Gihan Nishara.

The Rajans kept the fight in the first half when winger Galapitigedara made a 55-metre blazing run to end up near the posts. This try went unconverted. Anthonian Kumara Maduwantha put over a 55-metre penalty and the score was 22-13.

A penalty apiece kicked by Maduwantha and Gihan Nishara saw the scores advance to 25-16 in favour of the Antonians.

Rajans number eight T Silva scored off a maul and the score stood at 21-25.

Maduwantha knocked over two more long range penalties for the Antonians to win 31-22.

Irshard Cader refereed.