Petes ‘kill’ Isipatana’s spirit and lift President’s Trophy with muddy hands

By A Special Sports Correspondent

St. Peter’s College crowned themselves as President’s Trophy schools rugby knockout champions when they beat Isipatana College 25-16 in a well- contested final which was worked off at the Sugathadasa Stadium on Sunday (October 10).

The Peterites had their great as well as questionable moments in the game as they made amends for two yellow cards given away-both in the second half-with a telling performance before emerging the victor. The lads from Bambalapitiya collected their points through three tries, two conversations and two penalties while Isipatana responded with two tries and two penalties. The winners led 19-8 at half time.

The first half looked hopeless for Isipatana as they conceded as many as three tries; Navin Kanishka’s chargers wilting under pressure and being warned by referee Raveen Alexander for indulging in unwanted play.

Peterite centre Sudesh Jayawickreme put his team in the lead with a smashing try by scoring under the posts with the game just seven minutes old. The other two tries for St. Peter’s came through Dulaj Nawodya and Dineth Ranasinghe. Yumeth Shihara kicked right two conversations for St. Peter’s in the first half of the game. Isipatana fought back towards the latter stages of the first half and earned a try through skipper Kanishka. Their maiden points in the final came off a penalty by Rinesh Silva.

Isipatana played better controlled rugby in the second half and defused the Peterite charge somewhat. Kicker and winger Rinesh Silva led the way with a well-taken penalty in the 37th minute and a try off a rolling maul by their forwards 14 minutes later put Isipatana in with a chance. The Green Shirts were hot on the heels of St. Peter’s, who were only slightly ahead with the score reading 22-16 at this stage of the game and a bit concerned because they were down to 14 men with the first yellow card. The Green Shirts had a teasing few moments where their spirits were up due to a promising run by Gamage, but the ball carrier misjudged the try line in his attempt at grounding the ball. The try was disallowed.

The rains ceased at the stroke of the 56th minute of the game and both teams did well to handle the ball in wet and soggy conditions. The Peterites paid for the sins of a yellow card given away by their skipper and third row forward Ashain Madugasge and were reduced to 14 men for the second time in the game. But the Isipatana players failed to capitalize on the player disadvantage on the field faced by St. Peter’s and produce that all important third try they were looking for to stay in contention. However, the Peterites swelled their lead just before the end when Yumeth Shihara booted a penalty and sealed the game for his team. The tournament was conducted by the Sri Lanka Schools Rugby Football Association and was sponsored by Dialog. The Peterites last won the schools rugby knockouts in 2019.

A St. Peter’s College player tries to power his way ahead in the team’s President’s Trophy schools rugby knockout final against Isipatana which the lads from Bambalapitiya won 25-16 at the Sugathadasa Stadium on Sunday (September 10).