It was all Science when the Joes were sent packing
The shocks were reserved for the last. St. Joseph’s, one of the leading rugby schools in the island, were sent packing by unheralded Science College and find themselves out of the Cup Segment at the end of Day One of the SLSRFA organised under 18 seven-a-side tournament.
Parts of the crowd at the Royal Complex erupted in cheers as Science triumphed 12- 5. David had slain mighty Goliath. Science scored an early try and strengthened their position with a goal subsequently. The Joes fought back with minutes to go. But their try was not even converted.
Trinity who had lost twice to Kingswood in senior rugby, gained some measure of satisfaction with a smashing 26-5 win over them. The Trinitians made sure that their opponents hardly handled the ball in the first half. Kingswood came to life in the second half, but by then the Trinitians were almost home and dry. Fly half Minidu Jayasundera opened their account with a neat try. Skipper Shyam Robinson, Umar Faizer and Revin Karunanayake also touched down.
For their grand effort, Trinity has earned a show-down with perennial rivals, Royal. The Reid Avenue boys, playing on home terrain, coasted to a 48-12 win over Maliyadeva. Kevin Samarasekera did the honours with a superb hat- trick. Chamod, Dev and Abdul were responsible for the balance five tries.
The Anthonians dispelled doubts about their quality by running up totals of 54, 36 and 33 to top their group. Harry Emmanuel was in his element, scoring three tries in a 54-nil rout of Royal Panadura. Inoke, Madhava Fernando and Akalanka joined the party.
Trinity 38 Moratu Vidyalaya 0; Maliyadeva 10 Richmond 0; Zahira 7 Sumangala Kandy 0; Wesley 31 Mahanama 7; Lumbini 14 CWW Kannangara 7; St. Anthony’s 54 Royal Panadura 0; Ananda 27 St. Aloysius Galle 0; St. Joseph’s 36 Piliyandala Central 0; Kingswood 48 Moratu Vidyalaya 0; Royal 54 Eheliyagoda MV 0; Vidyartha 21 Sumangala Kandy 12; Mahanama 24 St. Thomas Matale 14; St. Peter’s 28 DS Senanayake 5; Isipathana 31 CWW Kannangara 5; St. Anthony’s 36 St. Aloysius 0; Ananda 50 Royal Panadura 0; Science College 21 Piliyandala Central 12; Trinity 26 Kingswood 5; Royal 48 Maliyadeva 12; Vidyartha 26 Zahira 12; Wesley 54 St. Thomas Matale 0; Isipathana 36 Lumbini 0; St. Anthony’s 33 Ananda 7; St. Aloysius Galle 19 Royal Panadura 0; Science College 12 St. Joseph’s 5.
Ishara Cooray stood out for Kingswood, scoring and converting twice to make a personal contribution of 14. However, they were to meet their match in a later game.
Wesley, who had two bigmade, intimidating backs totalled a massive 54 points against the Matale Thomians. The small-made lads from the hills had no answer to Wesley’s power.
Isipathana had a couple of good wins, but the opposition was not all that testing. It would stretch the imagination a bit, however, to think of them as potential winners.
Vidyartha were given a scare initially by Zahira who had them trailing. But the Kandy lads took full toll of some loose play by the Zahirians to run out comfortable winners.
By the end of the opening day, Trinity, Royal, Vidyartha, Wesley, St. Peter’s, Isipathana, St. Anthony’s and Science College qualified to play in the Cup Segment.