OLD THOMIANS' RUGBY FOOTBALL UNION

Press Reports :
Trinity ‘Lions’ end Thomians’ unbeaten run

By Shamsheer JALEEL http://www.sundayobserver.lk/2008/05/18/spo03.asp

RUGBY: What a game it turned out to be but at last it was Trinity who won by not only showing their superior fitness and ball handling but also by overcoming poor refereeing which went against them a number of times. It was the “Lions” who roared last evening winning by 15 points (3 tries) to 10 points (2 tries) over the Thomians to keep their unbeaten run intact at the Bogambara Stadium yesterday.

At the short breather Thomians led 7-0. It was one of the best games played in the last few years in the school arena. Thomians played their hearts out and especially their forwards combined well with their three-quarters. Their No 8 and skipper Rohitha Rajapaksa was outstanding in defence as well as in attack.

On Trinitians never changed their game plan. Especially their number 8 Rushdy Ramzin was outstanding. The “Lions” had too much flair and power as they ran in two unanswered tries in the last 10 minutes of the game. At last it was Trinitians’ fitness which brought them victory.

Thomians missed a penalty in the 3rd minute of the game when their full back Manjith Thamanagama missed an easy penalty. A few minutes later they scored through their burly forward Devaan Hallock.

Two minutes later Trinity missed a golden opportunity when Kenon Armstrong missed a kick at goal. With the game going out of hands both teams lost one player each for foul play and were sent to “Sin Bin”.

After the turn around it was their full back Thamanagama who dropped a neat kick at goal to take a clear 10-0 lead. But the Trinitians never gave up. In the same time there was a costly referee error when Aruna Jayasekera did not allow advantage play for Trinity.

If not for this Trinity would have opened scoring through a handy try. But the “Lions” never gave up. They kept putting pressure through their forwards. Number 8 Rushdy Ramzin who enjoyed one of the best games in his life crashed through in electrifying speed to open scoring for Trinity.

But the conversion attempt by Kenon Armstrong was not successful. Kenon made up for this when he sliced through the Thomian defence to touch down to equalise at ten all. Then came the match winning try by centre Shamrine Sameem who dashed through the tired Thomian defence to score.

With this 15-10 win Trinity not only remain as the only unbeaten side in the School Singer League todate but also regained the Canon de Saram Trophy.

In the junior games Trinity had a field day winning all of them.

Under 14 A team by 31-0, under 14 B team by 13-0, under 16 by 7-0, under 18 by 3-0.

S. Thomas’ must be wondering what hit them at Bogambara yesterday! Their key game against Trinity was heading for a 10 all draw and was all but over. With the minutes ticking by S. Thomas’ full back Thammanegama fumbled with the ball and Trinity pounced on it like a set off panthers and winger Sameer (No 14) burst through the Thomian defence like a streak of lightning to score mid left. Trinity supporters all but went berserk as they nosed through to a 15 (three tries) to 10 (a goal and drop kick) to win the Canon R. De Saram Shield on the stroke of time.

Thus S. Thomas’ lost their unbeaten tag and Trinity remain unbeaten in the Singer Division A rugby competition. The game had all the trimmings of a Cup final. Trinity entered the field with wins over Isipathana and Vidyartha while S. Thomas’ had two fine wins over St. Peter’s and Dharmaraja.

The first half was stormy. S. Thomas’ scored off a forwards rush with deputy skipper Hallock barging over and Thammanegama was on target with the conversion. With the Thomians having a 7-0 lead Trinity threw all they had to the game but the Thomian defence held. Trinity were reduced to 14 men at this stage when skipper Gunawardena was shown the Yellow Card and was sent to the Sin Bin for a blatant late tackle.

Rough play entered the scene next and players were seen going for each other. A major fracas was prevented when the two skippers in a magnanimous gesture hugged each other and pledged to continue the game without any rough play. S. Thomas’ led 7-0 at the breather.

On resumption Thomian fullback Thammanaegama made a neat drop kick and S. Thomas’ led 10-0 early in the second half. S. Thomas’ were reduced to 14 men next when hooker Andrado was sent to the Sin Bin.

Trinity threw all they had into the attack and the vital breakthrough came during injury time when Trinity forward Ishrath Singhalakshana (No 8) scored off a forwards rush. Trinity trailed 5-10 at this juncture. There was some confusion whether the conversion was successful because the Trinity camp was absolutely sure that it was. If the try was converted Trinity would have drawn level at 7 each. Then came Trinity winger Wijesinghe’s try to draw level at 10 each. Thammanegam missed a penalty for S. Thomas’ and on the wake of it came winger (No 21) Razmi Ramzeen try which turned the game in Trinity’s favour.