Joes shoot down the Trinity flying machine
Trinity College would have sulked all the way to Kandy as they virtually threw away the hopes of winning the schools Singer U20 league title for 2013.
With around 10 minutes left St. Josephs were leading 17 points to 10 and a penalty was awarded 20 meters out and under the posts which Trinity did not go for goal. They scored a try on the 35th minute which was converted to narrow scores for Joes to lead 18 to 17. The missed 3 points put away their chances of a victory.
This however does not take the credit away from Joes who had dominated most of the second half and would have scored more if not for the crucial dropped passes and the conversions that were missed. In the end it was a good victory for Joes who are at the bottom beating a side like the table leaders Trinity.
The Darley Road boys playing with 14 the time when it mattered earned a well deserved win which is the second in their history of matches with Trinity. St. Josephs s got their points from 3 tries which were not converted and a penalty while Trinity scored two tries which were converted in addition to a penalty being put over.
At Half time Joes led 13 points (two tries and a penalty) to Trinity 10 (a try which was converted and a penalty).
Trinity opened scoring in the 6th minute as prop Basu Karunatilake powered his way through for a try converted by Tharindu Ratwatte. The try was a result of an uncontrolled throw to a line out by Joes which gave the ball to the Lions.
Joes worked the backs from around 40 meters out and Prop Stefan Gregory put the finishing touches to score a try and the conversion was missed by Dulith Fernando.
In the 15th minute Tharindu Ratwatte put over a penalty for Trinity to lead 10 points to 5. In the 33rd minute Dulith Fernando put over a penalty for Joes to cut down the lead to 10 points 8.
Prop Stefan Gregory who had a good game finished off a move that saw some good second phase play but the try was not converted and Joes took the lead to 13. In the 36th minute Tariq Salieh received a yellow card for back chatting when he was being admonished for a previous late charge.
Joes playing with 14 men scored as prop Stefan Gregory was virtually spurred due to the loss of his team mate and powered himself to score an unconverted try in the 40th minute. Joes took the break leading 13 points to 10.
The second half saw a rejuvenated Joe’s side taking the game to the Lion’s den but missed out on scoring due to mistakes that prevented them from finishing off some good moves. In the 13th minute a yellow card was given for a late tackle but the Joes failed to get the points on the board from kicking distance.
The Joes three quarters worked the ball form 40 meters out and a grubber put them beyond the Trinity threes and Shamilka Kurumbalapitiya, exploiting the opportunity, finished off for an unconverted try to lead by 18 points to 10 .
Trinity who made some desperate forays into Joes territory found the defence of centre Vishwamitra Peries and number 8 Suchintha Udamalagla difficult to beat. The Joes down to 14 in the last 8 minutes were helped by some good tackles by Janith Fernando and intelligent play by Shamilka Kurumbalapitiya and Akitha Hendalage who tackled or cleared under pressure to send the Lions back to their den . Tariq Saleih received a second yellow for obstructing which was turned to a red. In the 32nd minute Trinity made good use of a loose ball as Joes fumbled for Nalin Perera to score and Ratwatte converted as the Lions walked out head fallen as they had succumbed to a 17 points to 18 defeat.
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