Petes thwart an early DSS scare to win handsomely
View(s):St. Peter’s College weathered the scare of the first half and ran away with a handsome win against D.S. Senanayake College at 43-7 to remain unbeaten after the first round in the Singer Schools Division I League Rugby Championship at Havelock Park yesterday. The Peterites comfortably lead 26-7 at halftime but had to face an early scare when DSS shocked the entire stadium by opening the score with a converted try and take the lead 7-0.
The Peterites were dominant after an early shock from DSS - Pic by Priyantha Wickramaarachchi
But the Peterites got their act together to gradually accelerate and finish off with a tally of seven tries and four conversions. DSS could not add anything to their early points and finished 36 points behind St. Peter’s. DSS surprised St. Peters from the kick off and attacked inside the 22 with the forwards keeping the momentum and hooker Chanaka Seshan finished off with a brilliant try as No.8 Hemasiri converted to take an early lead of 7-0 in the fifth minute.
While pressure was exerted and territory was theirs’, a misplaced kicked allowed St. Peter’s an opportunity to get closer to the 5-metre line and scrum half Jason Dissanayake sneaked in to score. Full back Shehan Liyanapathirana converted and the Petes equalised 7-7 in the 14th minute. For the next 15 minutes DSS had a fair share of possession but failed to capitalise with forwards staying out and not getting involved allowing St. Peter’s the opportunity to get closer to the goal line and earning a penalty. Maverick scrum half Jason Dissanayake took a quick tap and braced his second try of the game while the DSS were taking time to regroup. Liyanapathirana converted to allow St. Peter’s take the lead 14-7 in the 20th minute.
Within four minutes centre Rukshan Madushanka sliced through to score two tries running 50 metres each time while the DSS defence were groping than tackling. One of the two tries was converted by Liyanapathirana and St. Peter’s went into the den leading comfortably 26-7 while DSS did not finish the opportunity they had to reduce the lead.
Immediately on resumption forward Lakshan Uduwana broke off from the centre running like a back and passed to centre a Rukshan Madushanka to score his third try in a row. Liyanapathirana converted and the lead expanded to 33-7 . The magic seemed to wane with Jason Dissanayake leaving the field through injury.
Dilshan Madushanka scored again in the 32nd minute while Liyanapathirana missed the conversion and St. Peters extended the lead to 38-7. St. Peter’s scored again through substitute Arnold for an unconverted try on the whistle winning 43-7.