After trailing 19-21 at ‘lemons’ against Thomians:

Second half rally helps Trinity win 50-21

S M Jiffrey ABDEEN, Kandy Sports Correspondent at Pallekele

Favourites Trinity College were given a big scare before posting a 50 points (5 goals, 3 tries) to 21 (1 goal, 1 try, 3 penalties) win over St Thomas College, Mount Lavinia in their Canon R S de Saram trophy rugby match played at Trinity College Stadium, Pallekele yesterday. At half time Thomians led 21-19.

In the first 20 minutes, the Thomians surprised the lions by their power play. They were playing at a pace which they could not maintain especially in the last quarter of the game when they cracked up giving away tries to their opponents.

Trinity College on the other hand made two crucial changes when they brought in stand off Tharinda Ratwatte and skipper and centre Kaneel Seneviratne and this substitution paid off. Tharinda Ratwatte kicked judiciously while Kaneel Seneviratne lent more thrust to the three quarters.

The Thomians ran into an early lead when stand off Devin Jayasinghe fired two penalties in the third and 10th minute for the Thomians to lead 6-0.

More shocks was to follow later when in the 15th minute centre Dilshan Moses intercepted a pass and ran about 25 metres to touch down near the post but failed to add the extra points Thomians led 13-0.

It was in the 25th minute that Trinity was able to penetrate the Thomian defence when prop forward Dhuli Samarakoon pounded his way to score far left. Centre Thisita Karunatilleke failed to add the extra points. Trinity 5-13.

Two minute later Trinity's ‘line’ was spotted off side and fly half Devin Jayasinghe converted the 35 metre penalty which was awarded St Thomas 16-5.

Trinity College hit back in the 35th minute through a fine try by centre Lochana Girihagama who picked up the loose ball ran 25 metres to score near the posts. Thisila Karunatilleke converted Trinity 12-16.

Shortly afterwards Thomian fly half Devin Jayasinghe scored off a second phase move but failed to add the extra points. Thomians led 21-12.

Just before the short blast Trinity's prop Anuradha Karunatilleke scored off a forward charge and this try went unconverted and the teams changed ends with the score at 21-19 in favour of Thomians.

After the turn around with the appearance of Tharinda Ratwatte and Kaneel Ratwatte the entire complexion of the game changed.

It was only in the fifth minute of the second half that the Thomians lost the lead for the first time in the match when Trinity's full back Halique Wadood formed the overlap and ran nearly 30 metres to score near the posts. Thisila Karunatilleke added the extra points. Trinity 26-21.

More pressure by the Trinitians saw the Thomians crack up and could not sustain the pace with which they played earlier.

In the 12th minute, lock forward Randika Alwis picked the ball from a Maul and ran 30 metres to score near the posts. Thisila Karunatilleke added the extra points.

In the 17th minute, centre Kaneel Seneviratne put the finishing touches to a three quarter move with a blistering 35 metre run and score near the posts. Thisila Karunatilleke added the extra points. Trinity 40-21.

Another unconverted try by centre Kaneel Seneviratne saw Trinity increase their lead to 45-21.

In the dying stages of the game centre Thisila Karunatilleke scored far left but failed to add the extra points.

Hemaka Amarasuriya was the chief guest and distributed the awards.

Priyantha Gunaratne refereed.