Champion Peterites shrug off spirited Wesley
Wesley's Samuel Ogbebor tries to forge ahead but Peterites stall him - Pix by Amila Gamage
The Peterites retained the Milo Presidents Trophy Schools Knockout title, which they annexed last year, by beating a spirited Wesley team by 18 points (a goal, a try, 2 penalties) to 15 (a goal, a try, a penalty) at the Royal Sports Complex yesterday.
A simple Thenuka Nanayakkara penalty in the fourth minute gave the winners the early advantage they were seeking. Wesley weathered that early storm and for almost the rest of the opening half, they dominated their opponents with a superior brand of rugby.
Lanky number eight Samuel Ogbebor was simply irresistible. Whether it be winning the ball in a line out, attacking the opponent’s line or defending his own, Ogbebor gave a brilliant performance. The two tries he scored were the outcome of a very committed and towering performance.
Ogbebor made a rousing break in the eleventh minute. At this stage, the Peterites were under the pump and looking for salvation.
Fly half Tharindu Walpitage equalized the score by converting a simple penalty . A couple of promising breaks by either side were ruined by knock ons. Wesley failed to utilize a penalty. The kick was from the right extreme.
Wesley was piling terrific pressure on the Peterite defence close to the line. Ogbebor latched on to the ball a few yards from the goal line and scuttled over. Walpitage kicked right and Wesley had now taken a seven point lead.
The Peterites were on the money straightaway when a defender’s clearance from around the 22-metre area was charged down. The ball ran loose in the in-goal area and Peterite winger Shenol Silva got the first touch on the ball. Nanayakkara failed to convert and Wesley’s lead had been narrowed (10-8).
Proud Peterites taking the Milo Knockout title for the second successive year
Withanage on the left wing made a speedy advance as soon as played resumed. Wesley took a quick throw in and the omni-present Ogbebor was over in a flash near the left corner flag. Walpitage failed with the conversion. At half time the score was 15-8 in favour of the losers.
If the first half, was entertaining and rousing by virtue of Wesley’s superb attacking forays, the second half was scrappy by comparison–only ten points (all of them by St. Peter’s) were scored in this period of play.
Ogbebor blotted his copybook, just before lemons when he received a neat pass and with the line a few yards away, knocked on. That could have been the clincher for his team but it was not to be.
The Peterites simply ran out of ideas in the first half. In the face of some brilliant play by the Wesley fifteen, all they did was defend. A Wesley mistake and a resulting try ignited the early minutes of the second half. The Wesley halves combination didn’t quite click on this occasion and scrumhalf’s pass was fluffed by his partner.
Thenuka Nanayakkara was on the spot in double quick time to touch down. His conversion tied the scores at 15-all.
The Peterites had a further opportunity when a hasty pass by one of the Wesley players sent the ball past the dead ball area. No one got there in time.
Peterite pressure was relentless. Wesley seemed to have lost their mojo. It was they who were now on the defensive, scrambling around and throwing themselves at the oppoonents who seemed try hungry.
With around five minutes to go, Nanayakkara was awarded a simple penalty, which he put over for the winning lead. In a sense it was not a fitting result for the Double Blues who gave off a memorable performance. Yet credit must go to St. Peter’s who came back well to edge out their opponents.
Referee: Dinka Peiris.