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by Ranjan Anandappa

A rampaging second half rally by S.Thomas' completely overhauled a hapless Royal outfit as they beat their traditional rivals by 20 points (Four tries) to 5 points (A try) in their school rugger match played at Havelock Park yesterday.

The win saw the Thomians regaining the Michael Gunaratne Memorial Trophy after five years in the 50th encounter.

The Thomians last won in year 2000 under Gavin Jayasekera 14\11.

Royal led 5-0 at the breather and the Thomians never looked a winning side until the turn around where they went on to plant four unconverted tries in fine style.

Both teams looked unimpressive at the start with Royal playing a bit better willing to move the ball ,but dropping it at vital stages deprived them of scoring opportunities. They finally went on to to score their solitary try through hooker Dimithri Wu which went unconverted. Skipper Varun Wijewardena missed the relatively easy kick. Both teams lacked the services of a reliable place kicker. If the Thomians had put over the conversions the score line would have been much bigger for the winners.

The Thomians who found their elusive victory formula in the second half saw their deligent set of forwards combining well with the back division which they were unable to find early in the match. They opened scoring in the eight minute after the breather when winger Niranjan Bibile gave the finishing touches to a move three quater move initiated by number eight Namal Rajapakse.

Thereafter it was a case of a complete dominence by the Thomians who scored almost at will. The Thomian wingers Niranjan Bibile and Nilanka Muthtetuwegama and skipper Namal Rajapakse stood out for the winners. Bibile, Muthtetewegama, and Yashantha Rajapake and Sanjay Samarasinghe scored the tries for the Thomians.

Pradeep Fernando refereed.

Royal won the under 17 game 8\7.

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