Trinity show their class at Milo All-Island Under-16 10-a-side rugby

By Shamseer Jaleel

Trinity College’s Under-16 rugby players stamped their class to secure the Milo All-Island Under-16 rugby tournament when they edged out Kingswood College 17-12 in a tense final which went to extra time after the scores were deadlocked at 12 a piece after fulltime at the Trinity College Rugby Stadium in Pallekelle yesterday.

The victorious Trinity College Kandy team

At halftime Trinity led 7-0. These two schools have already booked their quarterfinal places in the fifteen-a-side game in the same age group two weeks ago.

The rugby dished out in the cup finals was of the highest quality, with the organisers working off the first day’s play at two grounds – the Pallekelle stadium and a newly-opened ground in Digana. Trinity remained unbeaten and untouched in the tournament towards the finals, showing a superior quality of running rugby from their youngsters. They beat Sumangala (33-0), Ananda (29-0), DS (31-0), Wesley (17-0) and their traditional rivals Royal (22-0). 

Only in the finals was their try line crossed by the Randles Hill School. Meanwhile, Kingswood beat Maliyadeva (24-7), Katugastota Antonians (24-5), Dharmaraja (12-7) and defending champions St. Peter’s (26-5) before going down to the gutsy lions outfit in their den.

Player of the Tournement Shehan Sirisoma of Trinity College receiving his award from Chief Guest Nestle Lanka Plc Corporate Affairs Vice President Bandula Egodabe

Trinitian Shehan Sirisoma was adjudged the ‘Best Player’ of the tournament. The Trinity Under-16 rugby outfit was coached by their old boys Damith Dissanayake and Thusith de Silva. Nestle sponsored the tournament.