Christian de Lile takes Thomians through

By Shamseer Jaleel

S. Thomas’ 31 points

St. Anthony’s 29 points

Thomian skipper Christian De Lile who had a grand season for the Mount Thomians took them through to their first win this season when he scored the winning try in the last minute of the game Antonians at Nittawela Rugby Stadium. Thomians won the nail bitter by 31 points (3 goals, 2 tries) to 29 points (2 goals, 3 tries)

At the short breather, 

Thomians led 26/15.

Antonians dominated play in the early stages of the game by scoring two tries but the visitors did come back strongly scoring tries in tandem to take the short breather with a 14 points lead. Niranga Ranaweera and Theeksha Gunasinghe tries took the Antonians into early lead. Thomians skipper, Lile was unstoppable leading from the front scored a superb forwards try. Aaron Ferdinando converted. 

Aaron scored the next Thomian try through a sweeping three-quarter move spotting the gap and dummying his way. He goaled himself to take 14/10 lead. Thomians flanker, Vidanapathirana powered his way for the Thomian try. 

Antonians too attacked in the next few minutes with ball changing hands, in the end, Udara Ariyapala touching down to cut the deficit 19/15 favouring the visitors. There was one more try from Aaron to take the lemons 26/15 favouring the Mount Lavinia school.

After the turn around next, it was Antonian scrum half tiny Sohail Waseem’s turn with cricketer turned rugby player Janidu who converted to take it to 26/22. Another famed cricketer for the Katugastota lads Theeksha Gunasinghe touched with Janidu, converting and taking the lead 29/26. During this time Thomians lost two players for yellow card offences. Game going into extra time saw evergreen Thomian skipper Christian de Lile going over the line for the Thomian win.

Referee Aruna Shantha

This was the Thomians first win and the Antonians ended round one without a single win. Both teams will play in the Plate segment in round 2 in two weeks. Only Trinity will play in the Cup segment from the Kandy schools, that too through a narrow save by obtaining the number 4 position which is the last place for the Cup segment outfit. Rajans too will join the Antonians in the Plate segment in round 2.