OLD THOMIANS' RUGBY FOOTBALL UNION

Press Reports :
Thomians in stunning win over Peterites - Regain the Archibald Perera Trophy:

By Chris Dhambarage http://www.sundayobserver.lk/2008/05/04/spo05.asp

RUGBY: S. Thomas’ College produced a magnificent performance as they brought down the defending champions St. Peter’s College by 22 points to 19 points in a thrilling Singer inter school under 20 Division One Group ‘A’ league rugby tournament match worked off at Mount Lavinia yesterday.

Their second successive win in the current season had a great amount of significance as they also regained the Archibald Perera Trophy after a lapse of two years. S. Thomas’ College collected their points from one goal and three tries while St. Peter’s College who led 10-7 at half time responded with one goal, three penalties and one drop goal.

Incidentally their previous win against St. Peter’s College was recorded in 2005 under the captaincy of Namal Rajapaksa. In a co-incidence his brother Rohitha Rajapaksa scored two brilliant tries and led his dynamic team to a morale boosting victory that also kept their unbeaten record intact and to stay in contention for the league title.

The Thomians of course took the initiative and scored an early try while showing signs of dominating the proceedings.

They got their act together well from the kick off and certainly surprised their opponents with a splendid performance where they enjoyed a great amount of possession in the line outs and set pieces.

However the Peterites spearheaded by their hard working set of forwards came back strongly to level the scores and from there onwards the game turned out to be a fascinating contest until the final whistle.

The Thomians certainly deserved their victory because they scored more tries than their opponents and held their nerves during a tense final few moments of the game. The Peterites launched a fierce late rally with their reliable place kicker Harsha Weerakkody firing three crucial penalties in addition to a spectacular drop goal.

But the Thomian forwards held on determinedly with their solid defence after having done all the hard work early in the second half.

This was the period that they really turned the game in their favour with skipper and number eight Rohitha Rajapaksa producing two superb tries.

In addition Manjith Amangama and Jeewaka Hewawithara also scored a try each for the Thomians. Dilshan Paul scored the solitary try for St. Peter’s College which was converted by Harsha Weerakkody.

Aruna Jayasekera refereed

Petes devoured at Mt. Lavinia
By Rangi Akbar, Pic by Gemunu Wellage http://www.sundaytimes.lk/080504/Sports/sp201.html

Some games have to be seen to be believed. S. Thomas’ who last week went down to St. Anthony’s Katugastota made mighty St. Peter’s bite the dust at Mt. Lavinia yesterday, They pulled off a stunning 22-19 win in a game where the fortunes fluctuated like swing of a pendulum.

The high riding Peterites came into the game with the hope of recording three wins in-a-row. But the Thomians had other ideas. They capitalized on the Peterite mistakes with telling effect and ultimately ran out winners by a goal and three tries to that of a goal, 3 penalties and a drop goal by the Peterites. In the process they also won the Archibald Perera Memorial Trophy which had eluded them for the last two years.

The Thomians took first blood in the third minute when Thammanagama scored mid left and Heshan Gunaratne converted to put them ahead at 7-0. A few minutes later Jeremy Fernando put over a penalty and Thomians were sitting pretty at 7-0.

St. Peter’s dominated the game to such effect next when they kept the Thomians pinned to their end of territory without much success. Dilshan Paul scored a peach of a try and Harsha Weerakkody converted to put the Peterites on par with the Thomians at 7 each. Just before the breather Harsha Weerakkody put over a penalty and St. Peter’s led 10-7.

The tit-for-tat scoring continued on resumption with prop R.P.S. Gunasekera scoring for S. Thomas’ and St.Peter’s snatching a lead back once again through a neat drop goal by Harsha Weerakkody to lead 13-12. S. Thomas’ snatched the lead at 17-13 through a try by Jeewaka Hewawitharane and St. Peter’s took the lead at 17-6