Peterites end season as unbeaten double champions

Unbeaten St. Peter’s College lifts the Dialog Schools Rugby Knockouts Presidents Trophy after beating Isipathana College 25-16 yesterday

Captain Ashan Madugasge receives the Dialog School Rugby Knockouts Trophy from Dialog Axiata Vice President Brand and Media Group Marketing Harsha Samaranayake and SLSRFA President Kamal Ariyasinghe SLSRFA Treasurer Damitha Perera, Secretary Nirodha Wijerama, Ministry of Education Additional Secretary Establishment Amal Edirisooriya  and Sports Deputy Director Upali Amaratunga are also present​

By Shamseer Jaleel

Unbeaten St. Peter’s College not only managed to defeat Isipathana College twice this season but also to grab the Dialog Schools President Trophy 2023 when they got the better of the Green Shirts by 25 points (3 tries, 2 conversions, 2 penalties) to 16 points (2 tries, 2 penalties) at the Sugathadasa Stadium last evening.

At the short breather, the lads from Bambalapitiya led 19/8.

St. Peter’s College had better exchanges early in the game when the Green Shirts took time to settle. For the lads from Bambalapitiya, it was Sudesh Jayawickrema who had a grand game. He was simply outstanding both in attack as well in defence. His ghost moves were constantly occurring and put the Isipathana College three-quarters under tremendous pressure. Dineth Ranasinghe and Vindhya de Mel too stood out for the Peterite lads.

Meanwhile, Isipathana played well in patches after settling late which cost them not only two converted tries against them on board. Though they made so many gallant efforts they missed out on scoring in the end. Their forwards played their hearts out. Their skipper Naveen Kanishka had an ordinary game while Rinesh Silva and Shaid Zumry looked outstanding both in attack as well in defence. In forward play it was Mihisara Hettiarachchi who stood out. Soon after a deficit of 11 points conceded in the initial half Green Shirts looked like making a comeback soon after the turn around but it was short-lived. Even while they had a one-man advantage as 2 of the Peterite players received yellow cards still they failed to capitalise on those 20 minutes of play with an extra player. 

This was the third trophy for this season for the Bamba lads after ending as unbeaten in the league plus the knockout tournament under their Head Coach Sanath Martis who did a yeoman service for the Bambalapitiya lads. They also accounted for the CR and FC Centenary Sevens win early this year.

St. Peter’s drew first blood early in the 7th minute of the game when Sudesh Jayawickrema brushed aside a few Isipathana players to touch down their first try. Yumeth Shihara added the extra 2 points. Eight minutes later after several bold moves by the Isipathana forwards, they were awarded with a penalty kick. Rinesh Silva was on target. But sadly Isipathana looked unsettled in their defence once more. Three minutes later they were caught napping when Peterites, Dulaj Navodya touched down their second try with Shihara's conversion taking them into a comfortable 14/3 lead. Then it was Dineth Ranasinghe Peterites winger who touched down their third try of the evening but surprisingly ever reliable, Shihara was not accurate in his kick at goal. It took 28 minutes for Isipathana to score their first try when their skipper, Naveen Kanishka touched down far left. 

After the turn around heavy rain made ball handling very difficult and it turned out to be a forwards game where the Green Shirts looked yard faster. Rinesha Silva cut the deficit through a penalty but it was short-lived as Yumeth Shihara too replied with one of the penalties which kept the scores at 22/11 with a clear 11-point lead for the Bamba lads. Green Shirts who worked hard scored their second try through a forward rush that ended in a try for Mihisara Hettiarachchi. 

With a lead of 6 points still the game was on with the Green Shirts requiring a converted try but the glimmer of hope faded away for them when Yumeth Shihara put over another penalty kick to take them through not only in this game but also to remain unbeaten this season. The last two unbeaten league and knockout wins were in 2007 under Ranuka Jayasinghe and 2010 under Keith Gurusinghe as triple champions.

 Referee Raveen Alexander handled the game very well. The TMO was Anil Jayasinghe.