Trinity College emerge league champions

Thushan JAYASURIYA

Trinity College Kandy came up with a dazzling display of open rugby to record a smashing 76 – 05 win over D.S.Senanayake College Colombo in their match played at Pallekele last Saturday.

Skipper Kaneel Seneviratne scored four tries Winger Dharshana Udalagama (three) Centre Thisila Karunathilake (two) Fly Half Tharinda Ratwatte (two). Lock Forward Randika Aluvihare, Centre Dureka Aluvihare, Mohamed Rasheed and D.A.Frank scored a try each with fly half goaling three tries.

Thus the lads from Kandy clinched a schools ‘A’ division league rugby title since its inception in 1996. Winning eight matches while suffering one defeat 29 – 34 against the Peterites.

Isipatana College came up with a superb fightback to beat Royal College by 34 – 22 at Longden Place on Friday to end up in second position.

The lads from Havelock town scored two tries through Centre Hirantha Perera and substitute Centre Kovinda Wimalachandra in the last five minutes exploiting Royals lack of fitness after they trailed 20 – 22.

Earlier in the first half the lads from Reid Avenue dominated through their hard working forwards Eroshan De Alwis, Lahiru Pavithra, Wasim Bawa, Andrew Siriwardena, Madhusha Kularatne, Yasun Weerasooriya where they scored two tries in the first half through Eroshan De Alwis.

Skipper Arshad Jamaldeen both of which were converted by Rimzi Jamaldeen who also fired across a 35 Metre Penalty to give them a 17 – 15 lead at the breather despite the heroics of Isipatana Winger Uditha Premathillake who scored a hat-trick of tries.

Again in the second half the lads from Reid Avenue took control of the game scoring an unconverted try through Wasim Bawa to make it 22 – 15 early in the second half in the 15th minute.

The Royalists came close to increasing the lead when Winger Ijaz Bohoran was brought down inches from the goal line and they kept on the assault on the Isipatana goal line for more than 10 minutes through their hard working forwards but could not penetrate the rock-hard defence.

10 minutes before the final whistle, the lads from Havelock Town reduced the deficit when Centre Hirantha Perera made a dashing 60 metre run to fall over by the corner flag.

Then in the last five minutes, Isipatana came back strongly to score two tries through Hirantha Perera and Kovinda Wimalachandra with both being converted to give them 34 – 22 win.For Royal, Damian Ratwatte who occupied the last line of defence, had a excellent game with his safe collections and booming kicks to touch and also joined the line on a few occassions in attack.

Royal's lack of fitness and good replacements in the back division was the reason for Royal's downfall in the last two matches after having notched up seven wins in a row.

Vidyartha College Kandy came up with a stupendous display to score a glorious 32 – 22 win over the formidable Peterites at Bambalapitiya.

The lads from Kandy scored two fine tries early in the game through Viduranga Ramawickrama and Number Eight Jason Dissanayake while Scrum Half Chamath Fernando put over a penalty to give them a 13 – 8 lead at lemons. Bhanuka Peiris scored a solitary try for the Peterites in the first half with Dulaj Perera firing across the penalty.

But early in the second half, Vidyartha went on the rampage to score three splendid tries through Viduranga Ramawickrama, K.Perera and Ashan Bandara with Chmnath Fernando making one conversion which saw them gaining a 32 - 08 lead before the Peterites scored two face saving tries through Flanker Royston Janason and Prop Steve Dharmaratne with Dulaj Perera converting both tries. But the lads from Kandy ran out worthy winners by 32 – 22 to finish in the fifth place

The past Winners of the ‘A’ division league

1996 – Isipatana
1997 – Isipatana
1998 – Royal
1999 – Isipatana
2000 – S.Thomas’
2001 – Isipatana
2002 – St.Peter's
2003 – Royal
2004 – Kingswood
2005 – Kingswood
2006 – St.Peter's
2007 – St.Peter's
2008 – Kingswood
2009 – Royal
2010 – St.Peter's
2011 – Royal