Eagles down Petes to advance to semis

By M. Shamil Amit

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St. Anthony’s proved that their earlier win against St Peter’s in the schools rugby league tournament was not a flash in the pan when they repeated the feat with 22-17 win in the first quarter final encounter of the Milo All Island Division 1A schools rugby knockout tournament played at the Royal College Sports Complex, Reid Avenue yesterday.

The Eagles who dominated the first session of play set up a comfortable 15-0 lead at the breather and then added a further seven points in the second half to the 17 points scored by the Peterites.

The winners accumulated their points through two goals, one try and a penalty as against two goals and a penalty by the Peterites and with this win they will now confront S. Thomas’ in the semi final scheduled to be played on July 12.

The Peterites put up a fine display in the second half but failed to turn the effort into points and missed several scoring opportunities. They did not read situations clearly and faltered when it mattered most.

The first half saw the Antonians going great guns with some scorching moves. The first opportunity of a penalty offered in the seventh minute was fluffed by fly half Chamara Kumara.

But that lapse did not deter the Eagles as they continued to attack like raging bulls. During the run of play they shone in every department and thereby succeeded in accumilating first points in the 21st minute through a try by centre Amila Bandara.

Chamara Kumara made no mistake with a penalty offered seven minutes later. They continued to torment the opponents and the second try came courtesy skipper and centre Amila Weligampola who intercepted a Peterite pass and sprinted nearly 50 metres to score under the posts giving Kumara an easy conversion.

With the turn around it was time for the Peterites who playing with a different game plan surprised the Antonians with a try in the very first minute through No 8 Keith Gurusinghe with scrum half Rizwan Meedin adding the extra points.

The Petes continued their pegging while rattling the Antonian defence, but unfortunately blundered near the try line. It took another 36 minutes for the next scoring to be done when Meedin booted over a penalty to reduce the deficit.

The Antonians rallied themselves and replied immediately with a try by centre Amila Bandara which was his second of the match with full back Tharanga Bandara adding the extra points. This gave the Kandy boys a 22-10 lead with two minutes of play remaining.

With time running out the Peterites made a valiant effort but only succeeded in reducing the lead through a consolation try in the dying stages of the game by winger Dhanushka Ranjan with the conversion being made by Bhanuka Nanayakkara.

Referee: Dilroy Fernando.