Ugly scene mars Petes victory
The Peterites were clinical against Isipathana - Pic by Amila Gamage
An ugly scene marred the Under 19 inter-school rugby encounter after St. Peter’s came out victorious by 20 points to 14 against Isipathana when some spectators manhandled a touch judge and in the melee empty bottles were thrown bringing the game to disrepute. The match was played at Havelock Park last evening.
However, the Peterites were the better team and they deserved to win having dominated the first session of proceedings to take the lead at the lemons 15-9. They accumulated their points through a goal, two tries and a penalty to a try and three penalties scored by Isipathana.
It was Isipathana who drew first blood by a penalty booted over by skipper and centre Sulakshana Ruberu in the third minute and eight minutes later Peterites leveled the score with a penalty booted by Shehan Liyanapathirana. Ruberu then helped Isipathana take over the lead when he booted over another penalty.
St. Peter’s undeterred got their act together and had their opponents under tremendous pressure and they were rewarded for their efforts with flanker Bilal Hilmy off a five metre scrum going over for an unconverted try. Five minutes before the short whistle they increased the lead off a try by hooker Julian Charles and with Liyanapathirana adding the extra points saw them lead 15-6.
From there on the two sides’ shared the honours and the Isipathanians being offered a penalty in the dying stages of the first half opted to take a kick at goal and succeeded as skipper Ruberu made no mistake helping the Pathanas to reduce the deficit as the sides changed with the Petes leading 15-9.
On resumption the weather hampered proceedings as the game slowed down due to slippery ground and also making ball handling for the two teams a bit difficult.
Isipathana again made the first scoring with winger Ramith Himash intercepting a pass in St. Peter’s territory sprinted over 60 metres to score down the left corner flag and with the conversion fluffed but the Isipathanians managed to reduce the Peterites lead to one point 14-15.
The Peterites struck back four minutes away from the finish through an unconverted try by Shehan Liyanapathirana who kicked the ball ahead and followed it up to go over for a try. Even though the conversion went stray, the Peterites had almost sealed the game before the long whistle was blown with the score 20-14 in favour of St. Peter’s who continued to maintain their unbeaten record with their fourth successive win.
Referee – Pradeep Weranga