Sri Sumangala College, Kandy produced a clinical performance to beat the more fancied Vidyartha College outfit 24-12 in their Inter-Schools Under-19 League Rugby Tournament fixture played at the Pallekele Stadium.
This was a historic moment for Sri Sumangala as they recorded their maiden victory at this level while collecting their points from two goals and two tries and conceding only a goal and one try to their opponents.
Sri Sumangala were trailing 0-5 at half time but they clawed their way back into recognition with a tremendous second-half performance, which helped them to notch up a memorable victory.
Meanwhile, Ananda College nearly caused another major upset as D. S. Senanayake College snatched a thrilling 22-18 victory in an exciting encounter played at the Ananda College Grounds in Rajagiriya. D. S. Senanayake were trailing 14-18 going into the last few minutes of the game but they pulled things back in their favour with a crucial try and a last-minute penalty under tremendous pressure.
The defending champions St. Peter’s College were stretched to the maximum as they registered a hard-fought 29-23 victory over lowly placed Science College outfit in another tense encounter played at Bambalapitiya.
The Peterites, after building up a commanding 24-6 lead shortly after the break, were put under severe pressure by a gallant Science College outfit, who eventually went down fighting following a magnificent second-half rally.
Kingswood College had the satisfaction of recording their first win for the current season as they defeated Zahira College 27-18 in another fascinating encounter played at Maradana.
The match was well poised at half time with the home side leading by a solitary point (11-10) before the Kingswoodians produced some sheer magic during the latter stages to snatch an absolute thriller.
S. Thomas’ College and Mahanama College figured in a high-scoring clash as the former powered their way to a convincing 50-35 triumph at the Air Force Grounds in Ratmalana.
The Thomians underlined their supremacy by running down as many as seven tries but will be somewhat concerned with their defence where they were guilty of conceding five tries to the opposition.
Meanwhile, the traditional rivals Royal College and Trinity College maintained their unbeaten record in the tournament while recording convincing victories.
Royal outplayed St. Joseph’s College 33-14 on their home grounds while the Trinitians overcame a much-improved Thurstan College side 48-19 at the Sugathadasa Stadium in Colombo.
In addition, Wesley College outplayed St. Anthony’s College 24-3 at the Nittawela Stadium in Kandy and the reigning knock-out champions Isipathana College had the better of Dharmaraja College 32-19 at the same venue.
