St. Joseph’s prevail in a thriller against S. Thomas’
St. Joseph’s prevailed in thriller by just two points against S. Thomas’ with a 27 points to 25 victory in a second round match of the Singer U-20 Schools Rugby league encounter played at Longdon Place yesterday. The Josephians having taken a 20-13 lead at the breather made up their points through three goals and two penalties as against to the two goals a try and two penalties scored by the Thomians.
A St. Joseph’s forward barges through the S. Thomas’ defence - Pic by Anuradha Bandara
The Josephians was expected to take the game with ease but it was not to be as the gritty Thoras gave the Darley Road boys some anxious moments before going down by two points. The match was a closely contested affair in the early stages of the first half with both the sides sharing honours. It was the Thomians who drew first blood through a penalty booted over by scrum half Dion Dias before the Josephians equaled it by a penalty booted over by full back Shamilka Kurumbalapitiya.
Later Josephian playmaker and No.8 Stephan Gregory went over for two tries with Kurumbalapitiya making one conversion and also booting over a penalty while for the Thomian skipper and second row Hasitha Senanayake scored a try which was converted by Dias center booted over a penalty with which the short whistle was blown with the Joes leading 20-13.
On resumption the Thomians gave the Josephians some anxious moments as they dominated most part of the proceedings and succeeded to reduce the deficit through a penalty booted by Ashwantha Herath. However the Josephians undeterred got their act together as they rattled the Thomian defence which ended in flanker Ravin de Silva going over for a try and with Kurumbalapitiya making the conversion as the Josephians increased their lead to 27-13.
The Thomians in a do or die effort succeeded in breaching their opponents defense on two occasions with No.8 Shashika Jayatilleke and center Ashwantha Herath going over for tries of which one was converted. However the late burst was insufficient for the Thomians as the Josephians held on to take the game by two points and also retain the Lady Jayatilleke Shield which was on offer.
- Referee Priyantha Gunaratne