Last minute try helps Trinity to force a draw
Dharmaraja College led 22-17 at half time
S M Jiffrey Abdeen, Kandy sports Correspondent
reporting from Pallekele
A last minute try by Trinity College fly half Tharinda Ratwatte
helped his side to force a 34 all draw against Dharmaraja College in
their schools under 19 ‘A’ division rugby tournament match played at
Trinity college Rugby Stadium at Pallekele yesterday. At half Rajans led
22-17.
Trinity College collected their points from two goals, four tries and
Dharmaraja College from (three goals, two tries and a penalty).
Before schools submitted their written protests to the match
Commissioner W D O Weerawansa that their opponents were fielding
ineligible players who had not obtained the release letters from their
respective previous schools.
The Trinitians did not have the name of the player in their team
card. But the Rajans played the player concerned as a substitute in the
second half. Both the scrums and line outs to be evenly shared and the
Rajans appeared to have the edge in the loose but the Lions hit back in
this department late in the second half to even up exchanges.
Trinitians took an early lead through tries by centre Dureka
Aluwihare and fly half Tharinda Ratwatte who goaled one of these tries
to lead 12-0 in the 12th minute.
The Rajans answered this by a try through centre M D Madusanka which
was goaled by full back Tillina Wijesinghe to reduce the lead to 7-12.
In the 23rd minute Trinity increased their lead to 17-7 through a
fine try by centre Dureka Aluwihare which went unconverted.
In the 30th minute full Tillina Wijesinghe formed the overlap to
score and added the extra points himself 14-17.
In the 36th minute Rajans equalised through a 49 metre penalty
converted by Tillina Wijesinghe 17 all. Just before the short whistle
the Rajans scored through centre B K Kumara to wrest the lead for the
first time in the match 22-17 at lemons.
In the 10th minute of the second half Rajans scored again through
scrum half D M Weerasekera which went unconverted. Rajans led 27-17.
In the 25 minute Trinitians fought back to score through winger
Lochana Girihagama which went unconverted.
Soon Lochana Girihagama scored again which was goaled by Tharinda
Ratwatte.
B K T Kumara scored again for the Rajans and Tillina Wijesinghe added
the extra points. Rajans led 34-29.
Then came the last minute try by Tharinda Ratwatte which was 40 metre
effort and went unconverted. Dilroy Fernando refereed.
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