Lions prove a hard side to beat
In a match that consisted of two distinctive halves, Trinity came out winners over Wesley by 15 points (1 goal, 1 try and a penalty) to 9 (2 penalties and a drop goal) at Pallekelle. The first half was played in heavy rain and the play matched the general gloom.
Trinity dominated territory and possession by around 70 per cent. Yet at the end of it, they had only three points to show for their efforts. It could be said that a mountain of labour had produced a mouse.
The second half played sans rain, mercifully was an exciting affair. The half time score of three all changed soon enough when the Wesley full back Lahiru Prasad dropped a goal to put his team in front.
In the 10th minute, full back Sanchana Sheik joined the line and went over after a fine movement by the back division. Fly half Thusira Perera’s conversion was astray (8-6).
Three minutes later, the Trinitians got together to produce a movement or two of pure magic.
The move started midway and four players handled the ball in a superb display of speedy running and fine backing up. Inevitably skipper Ratwatte had a hand in it. His inside pass to Sheik resulted in the latter touching down close to the uprights. Thusira Perera put this over to make it 15-6.
Shortly before the close center Ishan Madushan put over his second penalty for Wesley to cut the deficit.
Trinity had a possible try squandered in the first half when a player tried to go solo and failed, with two unmarked team-mates by his side.
The Wesley back division too handled the ball very well. Wesley’s full back Lahiru Prasad, slim and frail-looking, had a fantastic game. He was always on the attack and threatened the defence many times.
Wesley fought hard and certainly made it a contest. However Trinity always seemed to have the edge.
Referee Dimitri Gunasekera