Defending champs St. Peter’s retain title

By M. Shamil Amit

Defending champions St. Peter’s College retained the Singer Inter-Schools Under-18 Sevens Rugby title with a thrilling 12-7 win over a gusty Science College Mount Lavinia outfit in the Cup Championship final played at the Royal Sports Complex in Reid Avenue on Sunday.

The final went into extra time as the match ended 7-7 at the end of the full time with the two teams scoring a goal each.

However, the Peterites trailed 0-7 at the breather as Science College, who had earlier defeated the giant killers Zahira College in the semi-finals, scored a try in the second minute through Rasanga Silva who also added the extra points.

The second half was a closely contested before St. Peter’s equalised just two minutes from the final whistle through a try by Yasoda Mendis with Thenuka Nanayakkara adding the extra points.

As a result, the final went into extra tine and the Peterites prevailed with a try scored by Chandima Sandaruwan.

Earlier, Zahira produced a giant killing performance in the Cup Championship quarter-final when they defeated fancied St. Joseph’s College while Sri Sumangala College, Kandy had their winning streak stopped by Science College 12-31.

Meanwhile, Thurstan College emerged Shield champions with a convincing win over Dharmaraja College while Isipathana College overcame D. S. Senanayake (DSS) College to bag the Bowl title.

Trinity College had the better of St. Joseph’s College to clinch the Plate title.

Results:

(Quarter-finals):

Cup Championship: St. Peter’s beat S. Thomas’ 18-5. Wesley beat Trinity 19-7. Science College beat Sri Sumangala 31-12. Zahira beat St. Joseph’s 19-14.

Bowl Championship: Isipathana beat St Sylvester’s 26-0. Lumbini MV beat St. Anthony’s 17-12. Kingswood beat Royal 31-0. DSS beat Moratu MV 26-0.

Shield Championship: Dharmaraja beat Piliyandala Central 24-12. St. Aloysius’, Galle beat Richmond 22-10. Thurstan beat Maliyadeva 17-7. C. W. W. Kannangara MMV beat Mahanama 19-12.

(Semi-finals):

Shield Championship: Dharmaraja beat St. Aloysius’ 19-10. Thurstan beat C. W. W. Kannangara MMV 19-5.

Bowl Championship: Isipathana beat Lumbini MV 31-0. DSS beat Kingswood 19-14.

Plate Championship: Trinity beat S. Thomas’ 17-5. St. Joseph’s beat Sri Sumangala 47-0.

Cup Championship: St. Peter’s beat Wesley 35-0. Science College beat Zahira 10-5.

(Finals):

Shield Championship: Thurstan beat Dharmaraja 45-14.

Bowl Championship: Isipathana beat DSS 19-12.

Plate Championship: Trinity beat St. Joseph’s 17-5.

Cup Championship: St. Peter’s beat Science College 12-5.

Captions:

Action from the Cup final between St. Peter’s and Science College

St. Peter’s Captain Dilshan Madusanka receiving the Trophy from Ranjith Chandrasekera, President SLSRFA

St. Peter’s U-18 Rugby Team celebrates with the Trophy

Pix by Kithsiri de Mel