Thomians win Archibald Perera Memorial Trophy by solitary point

Thomian skipper Kurukulasuriya with trophy

By Shamseer Jaleel

S. Thomas College pulled off one of the hardest win this season by 23 points (4 tries,1 penalty) to 22 points (3 tries, 2 conversions, 1 penalty) win over St. Peter’s College in their Dialog Inter School Under-20 Rugby League encounter which was worked off at Bambalapitiya yesterday.

At the short breather Thomians led 20/19. 

This encounter was played for the Archibald Perera Memorial Trophy. After this win, Thomians increased their tally to 22 wins against the Peterites 12 with three games ending in draws. Thomians last won in 2019 under Harith Senanayake while the last two years there were no matches being played. The lads from Bambalapitiya scored their last win in 2014 under Shenal Aponso.

Both teams dished out some outstanding rugby converting their territory and good work into points. The lads from Mount Lavinia dominated play early in the game but the hosts hit back after 15 minutes of play. Both teams managed to score four tries each in the initial half which shows how the game was played at a very good pace and open rugby dominated by the respective three-quarter line of both teams.

After the turn around the game was contested within the forwards a majority of the time. For Thomians, their scrum half Malith Perera and fly half Yehan Bulathsinhalage dominated play. Malith dummied his way which put the home team defence all over the Park. Meanwhile, Yehan controlled the game with a lot of territory for three quarters to attack from the opposition half. Sadly, his kick at goal was below standard, missing all four of them. Meanwhile for the Bambalapitiya lads, Kushan Tharindu and Hirun Gunaratne were outstanding both in attack as well in defence. Vindya de Mel who replaced Emith Jayaweera in kicking duties, missed two kickable penalties and try conversion which could have taken them through easily.

Thomians drew first blood in the 10th minute of the game through their fly half Yehan Bulathsinhalage, He missed the conversion. Peterites hit back through a converted try. Thomians cut the deficit through their nippy scrum half, Malith Perera try. Another brilliant 45-meter dash by Rehan Wickremasooriya took the Thomians into a lead 15/14. Janidu Dela went over the Thomians fourth try but surprisingly all four conversions were missed by reliable Yehan Bulathsinghalage. Chathumina Nethsara scored for the Bambalapitiya lads after Vindhya De Mel missed an easy penalty for the home team. At the short breather it was 20/19 favouring the visitors.

After the turn around, Vindya de Mel missed another penalty before being on target with an easy kick to take the lead 22/20. After an equally dominated second half though the home team had more opportunity to score Yehan Bulathsinghalage was on target with a penalty kick to take back the lead 23/22. Peterites could have still ended on the winning side if not for Vindya de Mel sitter conversion 25 meters in front of the posts went astray.

Referee Dilum Deeshana.

Peterites won the Under-16 (12/5), Under-18 (14/0) while the Thomians won the Under-14 encounter 24/5.