Petes win in virtual darkness

In almost total darkness, St. Peter’s defeated Isipatana by 23 points (2 goals and three penalties) to 13 (1 goal and 2 penalties) to retain the President’s Trophy at the Royal College Sports Complex yesterday. The league Champions St. Peter’s thus brought the curtain down on this extra long school season of rugby which seemed that it never would end at one stage. The game ended in virtual darkness at 6.23 p.m.

The score line does not quite reflect how hard Isipatana fought. In the first 20 minutes Isipatana practically parked themselves in Peterite territory allowing the victors to venture out on only two occasions. With just four minutes gone Isipatana’s fullback Riza Mubarak missed a golden opportunity to put his team ahead by pushing his kick at goal wide of the posts.

The first score was made in the dying stages of the first half when Peterite centre Harsha Weerakkody converted a penalty. Almost off the restart Mubark made amends for his earlier error by drawing his side level. Despite the territorial advantage Isipatana turned over the ball too many times as did the Peterites.

At lemons the scores were deadlocked at three all.

The second half started with Weerakkody fluffing a penalty in front of the posts. Eleven minutes later Weerakkody did get it right to give his side a narrow three point advantage. It took two individual moments of brilliance to seal a win for the Peterites.

First fly half Meedin sent a penaty kick deep in to Isipatana territory. Off the ensuing line out, the Peterites drove to within two metres of the line. The ball came out and Meedin touched down under the posts. Weerakkody made no mistake with the conversion. Isipatana at the time were down to 13 men and the Peterites made the numbers count. Shortly after the Meedin’s moment in the limelight, skipper Ranuka Jayasinghe got into the act. Awarded a scrum near Isipatana’s ten metre line Jayasinghe collecred the ball, sent a grubber kick and followed it to touch down. Weerakkody converted and also put over another penalty during injury time. In between Isipatana managed to touch down courtesy Damith Udayanga. And the try was converted by Mubarak.

Referee – Aruna Jayasekera.

Yellow Cards – M. C. Fernando, C. S. Nanayakkara (both of Isipatana) and Samson Roy (St. Peter’s)