Joes stalled at the Pearly Gates
The Peterites prevailed over Joes in a tight battle - Pix by Priyantha Wickramaarachchi
It wasn’t the humdinger, and the Clash of the Titans that many expected. However, the excitement that prevailed was generated by the closeness of the contest. Especially, in the second half when the lead constantly changed hands — 15-13, 18-15, 20-18, 21-20 and finally 23-21 in the favour of St. Peter’s College, who won the Fr. Basil Wiratunga Memorial Shield, beating St. Joseph’s College yesterday, after a lapse of three years.
They also stayed in contention for the Schools League title which will be decided next weekend after Royal play St. Joseph’s.
Sunrea Fernando was the standout player in the Peterite back division. He cut through the defence at speed, and also zig-zagged to gain plenty of ground for St. Peter’s. On the whole, it could be said that the winners showed a bit more enterprise in attack than the boys from Maradana.
An eager-beaver Peterite shoulder-charged an opponent and referee Priyantha Gunaratne awarded a penalty. Santhush Algama’s conversion got them off to an early lead. Peterite skipper Bilal Hilmy emerged from a maul and overcame Josephian efforts to crash over for their first try. Nanayakkara’s conversion was astray (5-3).
The Peterite scrum half twice failed to clear from the base of the scrum as the opponents charged his kicks down. Play was in their 22 and the situation was fraught with danger. Having survived that ordeal, Sunera Fernando forged ahead off a lovely break. But a blind pass saw the ball go out into touch.
Next it was the turn of St. Joseph’s to capitalise on a dropped pass and make good ground. A minute or two before the halftime, the Josephians won a scrum in the Peterite 22. Tharindu de Alwis, the number eight, gave out a snappy pass to Rashen Gunawardena, who in turn, transferred to winger Teran Karunanayake, who flew over the line in delight. Algama added the points for the Joes to take lemons at 13-5 in their favour.
Peterites with the Fr. Basil Wiratunga Shield
The Peterites had to whittle down an 8-point lead, and after the restart, Nanayakkara cut the deficit further by converting a penalty. The Josephians were conceding too many penalties. Off one of them, the Peterites formed a quick maul and sent lock Nizran Mohamed crashing through the defence. The Peterites were now in the lead after Nanayakkara’s conversion (15-13). The Joes seemed a bit rattled at this stage.
However, they recovered their poise to seize the opportunity offered by a Peterite sending off, to touch down for an unconverted try. Substitute Hasitha Wijesekara did the honours. Algama’s kick hit the upright and veered away. Winger Shenal Silva grabbed the lead back for the Peterites with a neatly worked try. St. Peter’s 20-St. Joseph’s 18.
Algama had an absolute sitter of a conversion after referee Gunaratne awarded a penalty and the Joes were back in the lead at 21-20. Time was running out. The Joes won a scrum in their 22. An over-ambitious Joe did not bother to clear to safety. Instead, he tried to start a move. He was pounced on, and in the melea that followed, they were pulled up.
The final kick, taken by Nanayakkara was one that he would have put over with his eyes closed. The Peterites scored off a goal, two tries and two penalties. The Joes replied with a goal, a try and three penalties.