Petes crush hapless Vidyartha
The Peterites scored as many as 10 tries
St. Peter’s College maintained its top position in Group 2A and fired a warning shot with a crushing 66-10 win over hapless Vidyartha College in their final Dialog Schools Rugby League 2023 first round game at Bambalapitiya yesterday.
The Peterites scored five tries in the opening half and added five more in the final half to brace away with an unbeaten record in the group stage. At lemons hosts led 35-5. The Peterites are being touted as a potential title winner this time and will meet high-riding Isipathana and St. Anthony’s in the second round to book a date in the coveted school rugby final.
The winners started the scoreboard ticking as early as the fourth minute when Yumeth Shehara touched down with Kushan Tharindu adding the extra points. They surged ahead in the ninth minute with Pasindu Bandara going over for a try and Tharindu making the conversion. Vidyartha’s lone first half try was scored by No.8 Ranidu Gajanayake in the 17th minute when he breach the side defence to go over.
The Peterites struck almost immediately with Tharindu, who was in top form going over for a try and then converting it. Tharindu had his second try just two minutes into the lemons, followed by Kumara Sarath, who touched down at the stroke of first half. The Peterites continued their dominance into the second half with Sudesh Jayawickrama going over in the 39th minute and Tharindu adding the extra points. Vidyartha’s second try came off through Dilshan Kumara in the 45th minute of play. But that was all what visitors could do against the tough opposition.
Praneeth Silva landed an under-the-post try in the 49th minute before Emith Jayaweera and Dulaj Navodya touched down to lead St. Peter’s win. Both tries were unconverted.
Vidyarata, coming off a 3-23 defeat against Zahira in Bogambara, were never in control of the game, as the hosts powered themselves to a resounding win, breaching the oppositions defence at ease. Kicker Tharindu enjoyed a near-perfect game, missing just one kick at post off the nine.
Referee Aruna Shantha