Thomians edge out Rajans

S. M. Jiffrey Abdeen Kandy Sports Corr.

S. Thomas College, Mount Lavinia trailing behind 8-20 at one stage snatched victory from the jaws of defeat when they beat Dharmaraja College, Kandy by 22 points (2 goals, 1 try, 1 penalty) to 20 (2 goals, 2 penalties) in their schools Singer Shield under 20 Division one Segment A rugby tournament match played at the Bogambara stadium in Kandy yesterday. At half time Dharmaraja led 17-8.

The man behind the Thomian success was their No. 8 and skipper Rohitha Rajapaksa who was in the thick of everything and marshalled his forwards to make inroads into their opponents territory with some power play. The Thomians opened scoring in the 18th minute of play through a penalty fixed by scrum half Manjith Thammanagama.

But a minute later, the Rajans went into the lead when they won a line-out mid field and fly half Dharshana Etipola collecting the ball, ran a good 30 metres before touching down. Full back Indika Wickramanayake added the extra paints. Dharmaraja 7-3.

In the 25th minute the Thomian took over the lead when prop forward Rajindra Gunasekera scored off a rolling maul by the left corner flag. Scrum half Manjith Thammanagama failed with a difficult kick. S. Thomas led 8-7.

But the rest of this half belonged to the Rajans who in the 31st minute wrested the lead with a 35 metre penalty knocked over by full back Indika Wickremanayake. Rajans 10-8. In the 33rd minute the Rajans further increased their lead when winger Malinga Godigamuwa intercepted a pass and made blazing 40 metre run skipping tackles to touch down near the left post. Indika Wickremanayake added the extra points. Rajans led 17-8 with that score the teams went for the short break.

In the 11th minute a Thomian was spotted playing from an off side position and Rajans full back Indika Wickramanayake put over 35 metre penalty. Rajans led 20-8 and appeared to have safely wrapped up the match.

But the Thomian had other ideas and led by No. 8 Rohitha Rajapaksa they unleashed some power play which forced the Rajans to crumble.

In the 13th minute skipper Rohitha Rajapaksa led the fight back with a brilliant try off a forwards rush. Scrum half Manjith Thammanagama added the extra points from a difficult angle. S. Thomas College 15-20.

In the 25th minute the Thomians scored again when they won a scrum in front of the posts about three metres from their opponents’ goal line. Their three quarters moved the ball with winger Heshan Gunaratne giving the finishing touches by the left corner flag. Scrum half Manjith Thammanagama made a brilliant conversion to give the Thomians the lead and victory.

Priyantha Gunaratne refereed.