In an exciting game of rugby where exchanges were evenly spread out defending League champs St. Peter’s College emerged winners by 37 points to 28 over Trinity College in their second round encounter played at Bambalapitiya yesterday.
Trinity have never beaten the Peterites since 2014 and their misery continued for another year running.
St. Peter’s went into the second half trailing by one point 12-13, and this half saw either side taking turns to score the much needed tries or penalties to catch up on the other side.
The Peterites scored as many as five tries with three being converted and added two penalties to their tally that gave them the lead.
Trinity replied with three tries, two conversions and three penalties but fell far too short towards the end of the game.
It was Trinity who scored first after the turn around through a penalty put over by Hulangamuwa to increase their lead by four points.
The Peterites struck back through a try by fullback Pasindu Bandara who sliced in like a knife accepting a pass from fly half Raul Denish.
The conversion was missed but they took a one point lead 17-16 and went ahead 20-16 with another penalty by Denish when the Trinity line was off side.
Known for their fighting qualities, Trinity fought back and scored a try by Thehan Watagoda to take a one point lead again 21-20.
From that point the Peterites took their chances at increasing on their tally and were offered a penalty and Denish kicked right to go ahead 23-21.
The Peterites increased on their tempo and stormed back with some attacking moves and scored a try by burly prop Ranithu Ridmal in the 65th minute. Denish made certain of the conversion to give them a nine point lead 30-21.
Trinity scored one more try to keep the game interestingly tense with the scores reading 30-28 with the conversion by Hulangamuwa.
The Peteries did not give up and on working several moves Vishenka Silva went over the line for his 16th try of the season. The try was converted by Denish, the son of former Peterite captain Colin Denish, and the Peterites finished with 37 points to 28.
Vishenka Silva opened scoring for the Peterites in the 12th minute that went unconverted and Trinity struck back with a penalty followed by a try by Udeasha Ratnayake. Hulangamuwa converted and Trinity took a 10-5 lead.
Trinity increased on their lead through a penalty put over by Hulangamuwa to make it 13-5 and St. Peter’s maintained their power play and scored a try by Dulaj Navodya in the 28th minute.
Denish converted to reduce on the deficit to just one point at the half time.
