Constructive rugby gave S. Thomas’ College victory by 28 points to 17 over Kingswood College in their Dialog schools league encounter played at Mount Lavinia yesterday.
The Thomians scored four tries and converted all four to collect a bonus point as well while Kingswood replied with two tries, two conversions and a penalty by playing well in patches.
The Thomians were reduced to 14 players as early as in the 28th minute of the first half when Reshan Dwight was yellow carded twice for unwarranted play. With him being out of the game they missed a line out specialist.
Once again it was the Thomians who opened scoring as early as in the fourth minute when a move saw fly-half Malith Perera receive a pass from 25 metres out and quickly spotting a gap went through with the Kingswoodians caught on the wrong footing. Yehan Bulathsinhalage kicked right with the conversion.
The Kingswoodians played some power rugby through their burly forwards like Inoon Ishan, Pramoth Fernando and Dewmin Hewage who gained some yardage into the Thomian territory time and again.
But their backs in captain Imanka Ishara, Dineth Bandara and Oshada Weerasekara were unable to cross the line and add the points which they should have done.
The Thomians scored again in the 12th minute when their skipper Viyaan de Silva received a pass off a forwards ploy and scored. Bulathsinhalage converted easily.
Kingswood were not to be denied of a scoring opportunity and on receiving a penalty they went for the conversion and Imanka Ishara kicked right from 23 metres out.
With the Thomians being reduced to 14 men Kingswood advanced into the Thomain territory and off an ensuing loose maul Tharindu Ishara peeled out from the maul and went over for Imanka Ishara had an easy conversion.
The scores at half time were 14-10 in favour of S. Thomas’.
The second half too saw Kingswood applying the pressure on the homesters through their individual play. They made several advances but just could not turn them into points as the Thomian defence stood out well with Savantha Perera, Malith Perera and Yayod Perera excelling.
The Thomians opened scoring in the second half when they won a five metre scrum and fly-half Malith Perera dummied two defenders to go over for his second try.
Kingswood then came back and a move saw Imanka Ishara make an advance before passing out to Ahmadin Bandween who went over for a try.
Ishara made the conversion to reduce their deficit.
The Thomians finished off with their fourth try when they received a penalty and took a quick shot tap for Shan Udugama to go over the line.
Yehan Bulathsinhalage had no difficulty in converting and that gave them a win by 28 points to 17 win.
Gihan Yatawara refereed.