Trinity in 62-7 win over Vidyartha

S M Jiffrey ABDEEN- Kandy Sports Correspondent

Trinity College Lions sounded a big warning to other schools when they crushed the challenger Vidyartha College by the huge margin of 62 points (7 goals, 2 tries, 1 penalty) to 7 (1 goal) in their Schools Singer Shield under 19 division one rugby tournament match played before a large crowd at the Nittawela stadium, Kandy yesterday.

At half time it was virtually all over, as the Lions had a commanding 36-0 lead, ending any hopes Vidyartha would have had in staging a recovery.

The game was five minutes old when Trinity putting a lot of aggression into play and skipper Kaneel Seneviratne sent a pass to stand off Tharinda Ratwatte, who with a burst of speed, scored under the posts. Centre Thisila Karunatilleke added the extra points. Trinity 7-0.

Nine minutes later, prop forward Anuradha Karunatilleke scored mid left off a maul and Thisila Karunatillake added the extra points for the Lions to lead 14-0.

The Lions kept attacking ferociously and the Tigers from Vidyartha could only offer a feeble resistance. In the 25th minute, fullback Halique Wadood whose usual position is scrum half, joined the three quarters to score far left. Thisila Karunatillake failed to add the extra points. Trinity 19-0.

Four minutes later, it was full back Halique Wadood again who with a piercing run towards the corner flag and came around to score under the post. This was goalled by Thisila Karunatilleke Trinity 26-0.

Three minutes to the short blast, winger Dharshana Udalagama followed a kick ahead and collected the ball and made a bee line towards the post to touch down under the posts. Thisila Karunatilleke added the extra points. Trinity 33-0.

Almost on the stroke of half time Vidyartha line was spotted off side and stand off Tharinda Ratwatte fired a 35 metre penalty.

There was a lull in the scoring in the first 13 minutes of second half as Trinity College substituted some of their key players.

But you could not stop this marauding Lions as they geared their scoring machined into action again.

In the 14th minute Trinity won a line out inside Vidyartha's territory and with skipper and centre Kaneel Senaviratne with a burst of speed touched down far right and Thisila Karunatilleke added the extra points. Trinity 43-0.

Two minutes later, burly prop Mohamed Insaf collecting the ball from a ruck, scored far left and Thisila Karuntilleke's kick at goal, struck the upright. Trinity 48-0.

Three minutes later, Mohamed Insaf scored again far left and fly half Tharinda Ratwatte added the extra points. Trinity 55-0. At this stage, the Lions felt that they had hunted enough and were replaced by the cubs. In all they replaced 10 of their original players. All their key players were seated on the bench and watching the match except for Tharinda Ratwatte, Dharshana Udalagama, Ryle Madena, Randika Alwis and Anuradha Karunatilleke.

Vidyartha's only scoring effort of the match came in the 25th minute, when lock forward Lahiru Ratnadivakara scored off a scrum, under the post and No 8 Jason Dissanayake added the extra points. Vidyartha 7-55.

In the dying stages of the game, flanker Darek Aluwihare scored off a forwards charge near the left post and Tharinda Ratwatte added the extra points. Dilroy Fernando refereed.