Finally Trinity find their wings and fly away
Trinity College exorcised the demons by punishing Kingswood College to the tune of 58-25 in a stirring Cup segment game of the Singer Under-20 Schools Rugby League Championship played at the Pallekele Stadium yesterday. Trinity scored from nine tries, five conversions and a penalty while Kingswood responded with three tries, two conversions and two penalties.
The final score is not a true indication of the way the losers played. They used whatever possession they got to attack the Trinitians and spur out some delightful moves in which Ali, Rafaideen and Wimalaweera figured prominently. The halftime score of 19-17 to Trinity tells its own take. Shortly after the break, it was Kingswood who moved with the lead 20-19 after a successfully taken penalty by Rafaideen.
Tentative to begin with, Trinity found their feet, as it were, in the second half. Saranga Gunatilleke, Ryan Weerakoon, Isuru Rangala, with alia, were prepared to run at the defence forcefully. The Kingswood team wilted under this assault and the tries gushed forth.
Avishka Jayawardena, the winger, set the ball rolling with a dandy try that consisted of a run along the touchline, a chip, a neat collection and a touchdown. Shortly after, Kingswood came up with a superb try by flanker Wimalaweera. Trinity touched down in the 24th and 36th minutes through lock Rahul Karunatilleke and skipper Isuru Rangala. Not to be outdone, Kingswood’s skipper Rafaideen was over for a beautiful try where the ball was sent down the line and the long pass employed. This made it 19-17 to Trinity at the break.
Kingswood took the lead 20-19 soon after the restart. But skipper Rangala was at it again, and together with Weerakoon produced tries to put some distance between them and their opponents. Refaideen, who had a very good game, chipped, collected and went over in a superb solo effort (33-25). Then it was all Trinity as they ran hard at the defence and found gaps all over.
Refaideen on one occasion was heading for the line when he was very well tackled by Weerakoon. The ball rolled loose, Gunatilleke picked up and sped through the defence covering about 60 yards to score. Scrumhalf Anuk Boyagoda was very impressive with his speed and ability to find gaps.
This was manna from heaven after successive defeats. Trinity’s gloom may have been lifted but Isipathana College awaits next Saturday. Trinity won all three junior games – Under-18 by 10-5, Under-16 by 39-0 and Under-14 by 17-5.
– Referee Aruna Rankothge