Thora prevail over Kingswood
Maheeth Perera scored a double
A 14-man S. Thomas’ College prevailed a fast-moving and energising, yet error-filled Dialog Schools Rugby League 2023 match against Kingswood College by 28-17 played at Mt. Lavinia yesterday.
The Thomians, coming in as favourites, were in their prime, as flyhalf Maheeth Perera braced a double, one try each on each half, to bolster his team’s efforts, despite being forced to play with 14 men for more than 40 minutes of the game. In total, S. Thomas’ played one or more players less than their full force for almost 65 minutes out of the full duration.
However, they raked up points after scoring from four converted tries, to earn vital bonus points, and led the halftime by 14-10, after Kingswood staged a powering comeback soon after the home team was reduced to 14 in the 28th minute.
Players from both sides played gallantly, and standing out for the home team were double try scorer Maheeth Perera, skipper and centre Viyaan de Silva and flanker Reshane Dwight, who’s time on the field was limited to just 28 minutes. For Kingswood No.8 Ihsan Inoon and skipper and centre Imanka Ishara were the picks out of the rest.
Flyhalf Perera opened the account for the Thomians in the fifth minute, completing a line work that deserved to be touched down, as he covered a decent distance with quality pace to post an airborne try, the similar fashion he adopted in scoring his second try in the 45th minute, after the turnover. Skipper and centre Viyaan de Silva completed another spectacular try, similar to his team mate in the 12th minute as S. Thomas’ led comfortably 14-0.
Kingwood were awarded a penalty in the 16th minute, while they still trailed 3-14 and no sooner trouble followed S. Thomas’ when Dwight was handed his first yellow card a minute later. Returning after spending 10 minutes, Dwight lasted barely one minute on the field as he was found guilty for indiscipline play and was handed his second yellow card, which automatically made him eligible for a red card.
This was the moment when Kingswood felt motivated to attack, and completed with a try from prop forward Thasindu Ishara after playing set pieces. With the conversion Kingswood cut down the deficit to 14-10 by halftime.
Kingswood was reduced to 14 players after hooker Sashmitha Samarakoon was sin-binned in the 38th minute, making both teams even. After Perera’s second try for S. Thomas’ after the turnaround in the 45th minute, Kingswood wasted no time as they worked the ball towards their opponent’s territory, ending up with flanker Ahmed Nafeez completing a try under-the-post. With the conversion they were trailing by just four points, 17-21.
But the Thomians, despite depleted and under pressure of being overpowered, held on to their nerves until finding a breakthrough in the 60th minute, when flanker Shevin Udugama barged in to post a try following a forward move far left. This was the only difficult angle that fullback Yehan Bulathsinhalage had to negotiate, to stay intact with a 100 percent success rate in his conversions.