Champs again!!!
It was a game that had everything—tension, pace, discipline, and strategy—displayed not just by one side but by both. However, the team that maintained these elements until the very end, St. Peter’s College, emerged victorious, defeating Isipathana College 6-3 to retain the Dialog Schools Rugby League title for another year
Havelock Park yesterday was overly crowded, and hampering the thrill and excitement was the torrential downpour, that surely took away a potential blockbuster of a finale to a thrilling season. This could also be the only occasion where both teams failed to cross their opponent’s territory to score points from tries.
Elated to retain their title, St. Peter's College rugby team celebrate the end of a successful season - Pic by Eshan Fernando
All the points were made through penalties – two by St. Peter’s and a solitary from Isipathana – as both teams played on equal terms, with obvious extra pressure. Strangely both teams finished off their campaign in total contrast to how they kicked off 11 weeks ago.
St. Peter’s scored heavily at the onset and even surpassed a 100-point mark and nearly hit the century more than an occasion. Isipathana, were slow in their approach, but gradually paced up to become a top contender for the title besides the defending champions.
But it was St. Peter’s who eventually finished off in style, unbeaten after nine outings, scoring a total of 386 points and conceding 87 after yesterday’s title decider. They complete with a total of 53 points, inclusive of eight bonus points from previous games. Isipathana, who suffered their only defeat yesterday, were undefeated until then after eight games, and had in total scored 258 points, while conceding 116. They finish with 45 points, with a losing bonus point, in addition to the four already claimed previously.
Dulaj Nawodya, the captain of St. Peter’s, holds the trophy presented by Supun Weerasinghe, Director/Group Chief Executive of Dialog Axiata PLC
In yesterday’s title decider, an anticipated blockbuster between two unbeaten teams, heavy rain turned out to be a spoiler as the two teams found ball handling and running in the muddy surface too much. The procedure of the match could be judged by the scoring line with all being done through penalties with the Peterites holding on to a slender 3-0 lead at the breather.
The two sides shared honours in the first session of play but neither of them were unable to breach the defence and in the rush with no scoring being done the Peterites underwent a setback when they lost one of their top players in Yumeth Shihara, who had to be taken off the field on a stretcher before the first scoring was done with flyhalf Rahul Peter booting over a penalty which stood the score at the short whistle.
On resumption with underfoot conditions beyond their control, it was just a kick and run affair but the Peterites surged ahead in the seventh minute with Peter booting over another penalty. However the Green Machine noted for their fast open rugby undeterred had the opponents under tremendous pressure and for most part was on the attack but they threw away many scoring opportunities that they got.
The action was intense, despite the score being low - Pic by Nilan Maligaspe
Isipathana flyhalf and playmaker Shaahid Zumri was well marked, but yet they failed to make use of the many chances received as they mishandled at crucial moments. But Zumri succeeded to reduce the deficit in the 48th minute by putting over a penalty offered and this followed a penalty being fluffed by the Peterites.
The Isipathana penalty turned out to be the final scoring which ensured the close 6-3 win for the Peterites and now with the knockout tournament scheduled to be played in end August they will look forward to retaining the title to make it a double for the second successive year. Peterite playmaker Rahul Peter was named the player of the match, as his skipper Dulaj Nawodya received the Dialog Scholl Rugby League trophy in front of a large crowd of supporters from both sides. The game was controlled well by referee Gihan Yatawara.