St Peter’s bag season’s first school rugby title
St Peter’s College bagged the first inter-schools rugby title for the year 2013 when they emerged the All Island Under 18 Inter-Schools Rugby Sevens Champions with a convincing 27 points to 7 win over Royal College in the final played at the Royal Sports Complex ground in Reid Avenue yesterday.
The final almost turned into a one-sided affair with the Peterites taking a comfortable 19-5 lead at the breather which came through two goals and a try, with a try for Royal.
Skipper Kevin Dickson was in full form when he went over for two of four tries the Peterites scored. The Peterites meant business as they went into the lead in the very first minute through Kevin’s first try which was converted.
Six minutes later Royal reduced the lead from a try by Esala Herath. But two minutes later Nishon Perera increased the Petes lead when he sprinted over 75 meters for an under the post try which too was goaled. The third try for the Peteries came in the dying stages of the first half with Avishka Ranasinghe intercepting a Royal pass and flew away for a try covering nearly 60 meters. The resumption saw St Peter’s making the first scoring again with skipper Kevin emulating Nishon’s feat to score under the post. Two minutes before the final whistle Gavesh Yapa scored a consolation try for Royal.
The tournament was organized by the Sri Lanka Schools Rugby Football Association in preparation for the forthcoming U18 Asian Youth rugby tournament scheduled to be held in China in August.
The selection committee were scrutinising the players who will be selected to form an Under 18 rugby pool for the Asian Youth tournament.
35 players are to be selected in the first stage and once the school rugby season which is scheduled to be kicked off in early March gets going the selectors are hoping to add more players.
RESULTS
Quarter Finals:
Shield – Piliyandala MMV beat St Thomas Matale 33-0 while St Thomas’ Mount Lavinia and St John’s Nugegoda received walk overs.
Bowl – Royal Panadura beat Sabaragamuwa Combined 38-0, Lalith Athulathmudali MV beat Vidyartha 10-5, Carey beat Dharmapala 15-0 and Zahira received walk over.
Cup – St Joseph’s beat Science College 17-7, St Peter’s beat Trinity 22-17, Prince of Wales beat St. Anthony’s 36-10, Royal beat Isipathana 105.
Semi Finals:
Shield – St Thomas’ Mount Lavinia beat Piliyandala MMV 15-0, St John’s received walk over
Bowl – Lalith Athulathmudali MV beat Royal Panadura 17-5, Carey beat Zahira 33-5,
Plate – Trinity beat Science 22-12, Isipathana beat St Anthony’s 39-0
Cup – St Peter’s beat St Joseph’s 14-12, Royal beat Prince of Wales 24-0.
Finals: Shield – St Thomas’ beat St John’s 37-0, Bowl – Carey beat Lalith Athulathmudali MV 12-5, Plate – Trinity beat Isipathana 19-12, Cup – St Peter’s beat Royal 26-10.