Kushan powers Peterites to easy win over Rajans
A hat-trick of tries by Kushan Tharindu saw St. Peter’s College running away with a comfortable 34-7 win over Dharmaraja College in their Dialog Schools Rugby League fixture played at Bogambara Stadium in Kandy yesterday. At the short breather the Peterites 22-0, and romped to score from a total of six tries and two conversions. The Rajans were able to retaliate with only a converted try, that too minutes before the full time.
The Peterites coordinated well between their forwards and three quarters and they looked a yard faster. Their three-quarter moves had lot of purpose, and ran in four unanswered tries in the initial half. They split the Rajans defense all over in the early stage of the game.
After the turnaround the Rajans played with better coordination and kept the Peterites down to two tries and scored one. Once again their ball handling let them down badly in scoring another try or two in the end.
St. Peter’s drew first blood in the ninth minute with a try from Sadesh Jayawickrema, as Yometh Shihara missed the conversion. Six minutes later they expanded the lead through an unconverted try from Kushan Tharindu. In the 25th minute Tharindu touched down again, and this time Shihara added the extra points. Kushan completed his hat-trick on stroke of half time to take the short breather 22 to nothing.
After the turnaround St. Peter’s scored in the 57th minute through Rohitha Ridmal through a forwards rush. Minutes later, the Rajans scored their solitary try through a forwards move, with hooker Anoopa Herath touching down. Sadeesha Weerawansa converted.
The visitors had time to plant one more try in the 70th minute through replacement winger Vishanke Silva to gain bonus points. Emith Jayaweera converted.
The Under-14 game was won by St. Peter’s 10-5 while the Under-16 game too was son by the visitors won 5-3.