Peterites blitz Pathana
It was the clash of titans in the showdown for the Dialog Schools Rugby League 2023 title as St. Peter’s Colllege fended off a late charge from defending champs Isipathana College to record a 28-17 win and regain the crown after a dearth of 13 years at Bambalapitiya yesterday.
It was a St. Peter’s game to lose as the eventual winners out-rucked and outkicked the Green Machine, who seemed to be lacking confidence especially after their defeat to Royal College last week. The Peterites, under the coach and master tactician, Sanath Martis, unlike the Royalists who utilised drift defense to stop Isipathana’s expansive style of play, went with a blitz defense ploy and boxed in the Green’s centres, who ran into the Peterite forwards only to be rucked out.
Indicating their intention, the Peterites drew first blood in the seventh minute as Yumeth Dinara, who received a neat pass from his inside centre, stepped on the gas to gain an early 7-0 lead. No sooner, Isipathana centre Chamindu Charith was handed a yellow card for an inane infringement.
The hosts were nearly into a rude shock after hooker Mathusara Nishmika was warned instead of a yellow card for a dangerous tackle on Isipathana winger Rinesh Silva, who kicked a penalty offered to cut down the deficit to 7-3.
The jubilant Peterites, who claimed the League title with an unbeaten record
The deadly combination of Rinesh Silva and Shahid Zumri had very little success in front of the blitz defence ploy of St. Peter’s as Isipathana looked rattled. Silva went on to miss a long range penalty in the 16th minute, while his Peterite counterpart Nishmika too failed a similar attempt as the game progressed.
After few attempts forward Dulaj Navodya managed to brace a try off a rolling maul in the 19th minute, as Nishmika failed to add extra points. But the Peterites were well ahead by 12-3. They further gained an extra buffer after dominating on breakdowns with excellent counter rucks forcing their opponents to concede a penalty in the 26th minute. With Nishmika’s successful kick, St. Peter’s extended the lead to 15-3.
St. Peter’s skipper Ashen Madugasge receives the Dialog School Rugby League Trophy from Amali Nanayakkara, Group Chief Marketing Officer, Dialog Axiata PLC
But on the stroke of the halftime, the deadly Silva-Zumri combination sent chills to the Peterite camp as Silva cut across three defenders after receiving a beautiful backhand offload from Zumri to cut down the deficit to 15-10, still in favour of St. Peter’s.
Six minutes after the resumption Peterite winger Dineth Ranasinghe showed a clean pair of heals to score on the right flank, to gain a 10-point cushion for his team. But the game was forced to a stoppage of almost 15 minutes on the 44th minute, as referee Ishanka Abayakoon was forced to halt the game following the encroachment of fans into the playing area.
After resuming the game, tryscorer Ranasinghe was given a yellow card for an infringement. The opportunity was taken aptly by Isipathana, as lock Damiru Rajapaksa scored a pick-and-run try on the far right. Silva converted successfully as Isipathana trailed 17-20.
But the Peterites made a strong statement in the 57th minute when fullback Kusan Tharindu made a brilliant run to touch down, as they expanded the lead to 25-17. Four minutes later, Tharindu put over a penalty that came in
St. Peter’s favour, after Isipathana playmaker Silva was penalised for holding on to the ball. With the final score reading 28-17, the Peteries regained the Schools Rugby League title after 2010, under No.8 Keith Gurusinghe.
