ST PETER’S HAVE IT EASY OVER ST ANTHONY’S
St Peter’s began their Under 20 Singer inter-school rugby league season with an easy 50 points to 12 win over St Anthony’s Katugastota in the match played at the Air Force ground in Ratmalana yesterday and in the process retained the Rector’s trophy.
St Peter’s having taken a commanding 43-7 lead at the breather accumulated their points through six goals a try and a penalty to St Anthony’s solitary goal and try.
The match which was expected to be a close tussle turned out to be a one-sided affair with the Peterites scoring at will in the first half. They began their scoring spree in the fourth minute through centre Dilanka Perera who followed it up with another try a minute later. With second row Jerome Canute making no mistake with the two conversions the Peterites went into an early 14-0 lead in the sixth minute. Three minutes later second centre Akila Ranchigoda emulated his team mate when he went over for two tries, a minute apart, with Canute being able to make only one conversion, but he made amends by booting over a penalty four minutes later.
St Anthony’s reduced the lead and made their first scoring effort in the 20th minute through skipper and hooker Yakoob Ali with full back Ajith Hemantha adding the extra points
But the Peterites struck back when scrum half Avishka Heenpella ran over for an under the post try giving Canute an easy kick at goal. They increased the lead just before the short whistle with a penalty booted over by in form Canute.
The resumption saw the Peterites making some changes as they replaced most of the senior players and in the process made only one further score, which came through a try by full back Kevin Dixon with Canute again making no mistake with his conversion.
Even though the Antonians played much better in this half they too were not able to breach the Peterite defence and were able to go over for one try which was by skipper Yakoob.
The match was refereed by Nizam Jamaldeen.