• Thora flatter to deceive in backyard

Trinity College produced a clinical display of rugby as they brushed aside a misfiring S. Thomas’ College 36-19 to maintain their unbeaten streak in their one-sided Dialog Schools Rugby League match in Mount Lavinia yesterday (19).

A game that promised to go down to the wire between two evenly matched teams eventually fizzled into a no-contest as the Lions, playing cohesive rugby, opened up a 29-12 half-time lead.

Although both sides could only score a converted try after the break, Trinity’s first-half effort was sufficient for them to seal the deal and retain the coveted Canon R.S. de Saram Shield for a fourth successive year.

For Trinity, their forwards and backs clicked into gear from the get-go and their drift defence throughout smothered any headway made by the hosts.

The Thomians for their part cut a sorry figure on the day, with faulty ball-handling and a malfunctioning lineout putting paid to any chance they may have had of taking the fight up to the visitors.

The overall defence of S. Thomas’ also left much to be desired, as they resembled a team at sixes and sevens, with constant knock-ons when in attacking positions stifling their moves and allowing Trinity to counterattack at pace. 

The Lions scored from six tries with three of them being converted, while Thora responded with two converted tries and a try in a game featuring nine touchdowns, with the former underscoring their intention to go all the way for this season’s title with another solid outing.

For the winners, blindside flanker Nisith Kumarasinghe (third minute), openside flanker Hamza Abdeen (10th minute), hooker Onija Kodithuwakku (13th minute), fly-half Shan Althaf (20th minute), and skipper and inside centre Usman Safraz (25th minute) crossed over in the first half.

Eight minutes into the second half, scrum-half Udaan Wijekoon dotted down while outside centre Sadeesha Weerawamsa added the extras to three of the overall tries for Fazil Marija’s outfit.

For the home team who flattered to deceive in the contest and who struggled to seriously threaten the water-tight Lions defence, outside centre Seneshka Liyanagunawardena (sixth minute), scrum-half Venuka Wickramasuriya (31st minute), and replacement outside centre Zaydan Akbar (47th minute) crossed the Trinity whitewash.

Isipathana edge Wesley 21-17

Isipathana College ended the hitherto unbeaten run of Wesley College with a close 21-17 win in their Dialog Schools Rugby League match at Havelock Park yesterday.

Royal down Petes 27-24 

Royal College edged out St. Peter’s 27-24 in a hard-fought Dialog Schools Rugby League match in Bambalapitiya yesterday. 

(JK)