The margin of victory is flattering, but there was no doubting Trinity’s superiority as the Lions pulled off a 48 pints (4 goals, 4 tries) to 13 (1 goal, 2 penalties) win over a fighting Wesley team at Pallekele yesterday.
Wesley pressurized the Trinity defense early on, but two sweeping runs down the left flank by winger Mohamed Sashan in the fifth and 11th minutes enabled the hosts to go 12-0 up rather early. Flyhalf KR de Silva converted two fairly easy penalties, thirty yards out and dead centre, to reduce the deficit by 12-6.
Centre Kaneel Seneviratne and fullback Duminda Nayakaratne ent through gaps from close quarters to make the half-time score 24-6.
The winners were forced to defend their line for around five minutes at the start of the second half as Wesley’s forwards tried to force their way over inch by inch. A long kick finally relieved pressure.
Flyhalf Reshan Weerakoon then collected a short snappy pass beautifully and touched down to make it 29-6. No.8 Sean Foster picked up the ball a few yards from the line and fell over.
Mohamed Sashan (third try) and Randika Alwis also went over. Weerakoon added the extra points on four occasions. The gutsy efforts of Wesley forwards were rewarded midway in the second half when scrumhalf HRD Peiris managed to collect the ball from a ruck and barged over. KR de Silva was spot on with his kick once again.
Trinity’s handling left a lot to be desired. Their replacement scrumhalf as often astray with his passes, significantly, the winners lost possession quite often, whereas the Wesleyites clung on to the ball ferociously. Dinka Peiris refereed |
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