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| Sunday, 10 August 2003 |
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Kingswood beat St. Anthony's with penalty during 'extra-time' by S. M. JIFFREY ABDEEN - Kandy Sports Corr. Kingswood College stormed into the final of the Milo Presidents Trophy schools knock-out tournament through a penalty fixed by full-back Eranda Weerakoddy during 'extra-time' which helped them to beat St. Anthony's College at the Bogambara Stadium yesterday. The scores stood at 17-all at full-time with both teams collecting their points through 2 goals and a penalty each. At half time Kingswood led 10-0. The Antonians enjoyed a lot of possession in the line outs but in the scrum Kingswood Dharshana Premaratne struck a shade faster than his opposite number loose play appeared to be shared. From the word go both teams indulged in some fast and furious rugby and gave the indication of an exciting fare in store for the rest of the evening. The Antonians had a chance of opening their scoring through a penalty but fly half Mohamed Reyal fluffed the kick. Five minutes later another penalty awarded to the Antonians 30 metre out too was kicked astray by fly half Mohamed Reyal - a usually reliable place kicker. Kingswoodians now getting their acts together exerted tremendous pressure through their forwards but the Antonians defence kept them at bay. In the 15 minute Kingswood were awarded a penalty from 35 metres but full-back Weerakoddy kick was off target. But in the 20th minute full back Erande Weerakoddy made amends when he executed one of the best drop goals seen this season from a distance about 45 metres much to the jubilation of the Kingswoodian. Kingswood 3-0. In the 24th minute the Antonians were awarded a penalty but they opted to kick to touch and could not gain much from the ensuing line out. In the 28th minute a desperate clearance by Kingswood's full back Erande Weerakoddy was allowed to bounce by Antonian Winger Sumith Jagoda who when he did gather the ball was tackled in possession by fly-half Fazil Marija who arrested the ball and slung a pass to winger Mohammed Lufthi who sliced through the Antonian defence to score mid left. Full back Erande Weerakoddy added the extra points for the Kingswoodians to take a commanding 10-0 lead at half time. After the turnaround it was the Antonians who played with more grit and determinations and exerted tremendous pressure on Kingswood's defence through their heavy set of forwards led skipper Eranga Swarnatilleke. The Antonians were awarded a series of scrums as a result of mistakes by the Kingswoodians and in one of which skipper Eranga Swarnatilleke taking the short tap powered his way to score mid right and fly-half Mohamed Reyal added the extra points and the Antonians reduced the gap to 7-10. A penalty converted in the 14th minute by fly half Mohamed Reyal saw the Antonians equalise 10-10. But the Kingswoodians now feeling the game slipping away from them made some desperate attempts to mount pressure on their opponents and fluster their attacking play. A scrum in the 23rd minute deep inside the Antonian territory saw scrum half Dharshana Premaratne slung a quick pass to the fleet footed winger Fazil Marija who showed a clean pair of heels to touch down mid right with the tackle. Eranda Weerakoddy added the extra points for the Kingswoodians to regain the lead 17-10. With the minutes ticking away, and play drifted into the final minute of play. The Antonians prayer to Saint Anthony was answered and using their mobile forward they flunked their way to score mid right through No 8 Imran Bisthamin. Fly half Mohamed Reyal added the extra points and with the scores level at 17 all, 'no side' was blown. The game now drifted into extra time with the teams changing ends. The first fine minutes of extra time did not produce any scoring though an attempted drop goal by full back Eranda Weerakoddy fell short by yards. In the second period of five minutes of extra time both teams produced a fiery brand of rugby and a kick at goal by Antonians fly half Mohamed Reyal just missed the target. In the 7th minute of extra time Antonian winger Sumith Jagoda was blown off side by the referee and Eranda Weerakoddy put over penalty and the match ended on a 'Sudden Death' note. A. Rankothge refereed. |
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