Peterites edge out Joes 16/11 to reach Knockout final

St. Peter’s College with the Fr. Basil Wirathunga Shield after beating arch rivals St. Joseph’s by 16 points to 11 at Havelock Park yesterday

By Shamseer Jaleel

St. Peter’s College managed to secure a final berth in the Dialog Inter Schools Under-19 Rugby Tournament when they overcame St. Joseph’s College by 16 points (2 tries, 2 penalties) to 11 points (1 try, 2 penalties) win yesterday at Havelock Park. 

With this win Peterites secured Father Basil Weeratunge Shield. At the short breather it was Joes who led 8/0.

Joes dominated proceedings in the initial half with their burly number 8 and skipper, Naveen Marasinghe who had an outstanding game. 

They combined well with their forwards and three quarters playing well. Ball handling was tough still the Joes made very few mistakes in the initial half. After the turn around Peterites looked a different outfit. Their error-filled first half was turned into a superb attacking three quarter move which looked threatening majority of the time. Their skipper, Maligasge, Sudesh Jayawickrema, Ranithu Ridmal and Yumeth Shehara played their hearts out. 

Joes scored first when their skipper, Naveen Marasinghe brushed aside a few defenders to touch down in the 19th minute of the game. Ivano White missed the conversion. Joes who kept on attacking was awarded with a penalty in the 33rd minute of the game when Ivano White was on target to take 8/0 lead into the short breather. 

After the turn around Yumeth Shehara put the lads from Bambalapitiya through 2 penalties within the space of 10 minutes to cut the deficit to 2 points. Peterites who kept on attacking scored through their skipper, Ashen Maligasge who went over for their first try. Kick at goal was missed by Yumeth Shehara. Then at the decisive moment Joes’ skipper, Naveen Marasinghe received a Yellow card for punching a Peterite player. But Joes not only defended well through one man short they equalised through Ivano White penalty. 

The game going into its last 3 minutes saw the lads from Bambalapitiya kept on attacking in Joes’ territory their replacement player, Praneeth Silva jumped over a Joes’ player and scored the winning try. 

Referee, Aruna Shantha who had a good game with the support of the assistant referees consulted TMO, Irshard Cader before awarding a try.

Due to heavy rain in Colombo and ground not in a playing condition the morning games between St. John’s vs Rahula (Chairman’s Trophy) and Premier Trophy encounter between Maliyadeva and Panadura Sumangala were postponed. These two matches will be completed this week.

Isipathana will lock horns with St. Peter’s on 10 September in the final of the President Trophy knockout final at the Royal Sports Complex.