Science pipped at the post
The Singer Under 20 Division 1A inter-schools rugby encounter played at Bambalapitiya yesterday between St Peter’s and Science College Mt Lavinia saw a controversial ending as St Peter’s came out victorious with a last minute try to grab the game by 29 points to 23.
Science College had a clear lead 13-3 at the breather before St Peter’s came to their own. The Peterites made up their points through three goals a try and a penalty as against a goal, two tries and two penalties scored by Science.
Till final moment Science were holding on to a one point lead (23-22) which came off a penalty booted over by their reliable kicker and centre Chathura Gomes.
However the supporters of the losing side cried foul citing many reasons and that it was a controversial try scored by the Peterites and also alleged that it was time out when the try was scored.
The situation went out of control with the referee being abused which forced the authorities to give him police protection. But even then the game was too hot for referee Gamini Indrasena to handle taking into consideration the pace the game was played.Apart from that even though the two teams were out of contention for the league title this was a crucial game for them. But credit cannot be taken away from the spirited Mt Lavinia boys who played a cool and sensible game which rattled the more confident Peterites. Science having fluffed a penalty in the fourth minute made amends seven minutes later to put up the first score on the board through a try by centre Chathura Gomes who failed with the conversion.
The Science players took advantage of the mistakes and bad ball handling by the Peterites and as they went on to increase the lead five minutes later when skipper and No 8 Richard Dharmapala barged his way off a five metre scrum for an unconverted try.The Peterites did everything but score and was able to reduce the lead only 13 minutes later and that through a penalty booted over by Jerome Canute but Science replied with a penalty booted over by Gomes to increase the lead to 13-3 which stood the score at the breather.
The Peterites coming back in the second half seemed to have made amends to their shortcoming as they went into the attack and succeeded with a try with the game four minutes old through flanker Nishon Perera.
But that was short-lived as Science undeterred playing their cool game forced a five metre scrum and succeeded to end up scoring with Yasimdu Ishan doing the needful and Gomes making no mistake with the conversion. Science 20-8.
Back to back tries within a space of five minutes by the Peterites saw them take the lead. The first was by centre Dilanka Perera and the other by winger Praveen de Silva and with Canute booting over both the conversions St Peter’s took the lead 22-20.
However Science grabbed the lead back when the reliable kicker Gomes helped them surge ahead with a time booted penalty from a difficult kicking range.
With the game being played at a hot pace and referee Indrasena coming under pressure , the Peterites in a last minute ditch reaped success when flanker Nishon Perera off a five metre scrum went over for the so said controversial try to give his side victory.
According to reliable sources the officials of Science College has handed over a protest letter to the Sri Lanka Schools Rugby Football Association but was unable to confirm whether or when there would be an inquiry.