St. Peter’s ruin Isipathana’s unbeaten record
A Peterite holds on to the ball as he tries to evade a bunch of Isipathana defenders - Pic by M.A. Pushpakumara
St. Peter’s ruined the high-riding Isipathana’s unbeaten record when they recorded a smashing 32 points to 15 win in a crucial Under-20 inter-schools rugby encounter played at Bambalapitiya yesterday.
The score stood at 15 a piece at the breather and St. Peter’s made up their points through three goals, a try and two penalties to the three tries scored by Isipathana.
In the process the Peterites are achieving a win against the Pathana after a lapse of six years with their last win being recorded in the year 2010 under the leadership of Keith Gurusinghe.
The heroes of the Peterites win were second row Theekshana Heshan who was in top form and went over for three tries contributing 15 points and their reliable kicker and fly half Stephan Sivaraj whose share of points was 12.
The kick off saw the Peterites going into action and drawing first blood in the fourth minute with Stephan Selvaraj making no mistake with a penalty that offered.
The Peterites buoyed by that went into the attack and had the Isipathana defence in tatters and in the 12th minute saw Peterite scrum half Raveen Fernando grabbing a stray pass by an Isipathana player and going over for a try down the left corner flag with Sivaraj adding the extra points.
Four minutes later the Peterites increased the lead with second row Theekshana in a melee zigzagged and pass through a number of Isipathana defenders to go over for an unconverted try as they took a healthy 15-0 lead.
The Isipathanians smarting from the early debacle got their act together and planted a hat-trick of tries with prop forward Vikash Vimadawa going over for the first followed by fly half Harith Bandara and on the last minute of the first session by second row Sudeera Gayanath, but they were unable make any conversion which would no doubt could be a down fall for them.
The sides’ changed with both having scored 15 points.
The resumption saw the Peterites coming into the field with a game plan and they had the Pathana in a spot of bother and having them under tremendous pressure.
It was the Peterites again who drew first blood in the second half with Theekshana Heshan going over for his second try in the fifth minute and with Sivaraj making the conversion saw them going into the lead 22-15.
Seven minutes later the Peterites receiving a penalty for an infringement instead of kicking to touch opted to boot it over and Sivaraj was right on target which saw them leading 25-15.
It was poor ball handling and passing by the Isipathana players that led to their downfall, at times it was knock on or it went wayward and Theekshana Heshan grabbing one of the wayward pass ran through for his third try of the match and with Sivaraj making the conversion the home team almost put the issue beyond doubt with the score on 32-15.
The Isipathanians on the other hand found it tough to get past the Peterite defence as the home team dominated proceedings in all departments of play and the visitors guessing.
It was the team combination by the Peterites that ensured them the victory and the Isipathanians met their waterloo due to the crucial mistakes, but credit cannot be taken away from the Peterites who came into the game with a mission and was able to fulfil with little difficulty.
Referee – Irshad Cader
Zahira thrash POW 64-12
Zahira thrashed the hapless Prince of Wales side by a whopping 64 points to 12 in the Under 20 inter-school rugby match played at Zahira ground in Maradana yesterday. Zahira led 21-3 at the short whistle.