S. Thomas’ College, Mount Lavinia beat a fighting Vidyartha College, Kandy by 35 points (5 tries, 5 conversions) to 19 (3 tries, 2 conversions) in their Dialog ‘A’ Division inter-club knock out rugby tournament match played at Havelock Park yesterday.
At half time the Thomians led 21-7.
The Thomians started off brilliantly when winger Jayden Koch barged over from close range for the first try of the game which was converted by Yehan Bulathsinghalage.
Vidyartha managed to claw their way back into the game through flanker Seneviratne, who warded off a couple of tackles and cantered over to score their first try which was converted by Menuka Thilakarathne.
Immediately after the restart, the Thomians scored two runaway tries through flanker Shenal Fernando and second row forward Perera to take control of the game. Bulathsinhalage managed to bisect the uprights on both occasions. This turned the momentum of the game in favour of S. Thomas’ who led 21-7.
After the interval, Thomians forged ahead when scrum half Mahith Perera broke through the first line of defence and beat the fullback to score a brilliant solo try after covering nearly 30 metres. Bulathsinhalage converted. S. Thomas now led 28-7.
The fifth Thomian try was scored by hooker Shehan Selvanayagam with Bulathsinghalage firing across the conversion to increase their lead to an unassailable 35-7.
Vidyartha College fought back with two back-to-back tries scored by replacement player Weerasinghe and winger Kulathunga. Thilakarathne converted one of the tries as they cut down the lead to 35-19. However, this score remained till full time.
S. Thomas scrum half Mahith Perera was adjudged NDB player of the match.
Referee: Kelum Sadaruwan