Thomians withstand Science Challenge to win by 30-26

1. Thomas’ College emerged victorious with a narrow 30-26 win over Science College in a thrilling Dialog School ‘A’ Division League Rugby Tournament match held at the Air Force grounds in Ratmalana yesterday. S. Thomas’ led 13-7 at half time and managed to hold onto their lead in a fiercely contested game.
2. Thomas’ College scored one goal, four tries, and one penalty to reach their 30 points. Science College, showing a late surge, scored three goals and one try but fell short at 26 points.

The game started with S. Thomas’ Number Eight Mikail Karunaratne powering through the blindside to score their first try in the 6th minute. However, Udan Bulathsinhalage missed the conversion, leaving the Thomians with a 5-0 lead.

Just three minutes later, Science College’s full-back Dilruwan Perera countered with a try, weaving through defenders to score. Perera then converted his own try, putting Science College ahead at 7-5.

In the 15th minute, Udan Bulathsinhalage missed a 35-meter penalty kick for S. Thomas’. However, the Thomians soon regained their lead when Seneshka Liyanagunawardena scored a try after a driving maul in the 18th minute. Despite another missed conversion by Udan Bulathsinhalage, S. Thomas’ led 10-7.

By the 34th minute, Udan Bulathsinhalage successfully converted a 22-metre penalty, extending the Thomian lead to 13-7. The score remained unchanged at half time, and S. Thomas’ led 13-7.

Science College came back storming after the break. In the 41st minute, full back Dilruwan Perera scored another try and converted it, giving Science College a slender 14-13 lead. Perera was responsible for all 14 points at this stage.

1. Thomas’ responded swiftly with a try by prop forward Kaveesha Lenagala in the 46th minute, reclaiming the lead at 18-14 and Yehan Bulathsinhalage missed the conversion again.

In the 52nd minute, Seneshka Liyanagunawardena scored his second try for S. Thomas’, and this time, skipper Yehan Bulathsinhalage added the extra points, pushing the lead to 25-14.

The Thomians continued to extend their lead with a try from flanker Tieshya Aluwihara in the 59th minute, Yehan Bulathsinhalage missed the conversion. The score stood at 30-14.

Science College fought back valiantly. Number 8 Ravindu Nishantha scored a try in the 65th minute, with skipper Anuradha Lakshan Silva making the conversion, narrowing the deficit to 30-21. Then, in the 70th minute, burly flanker Oshan Eranda scored another try, but vice-captain and full back Dilruwan Perera missed the conversion, bringing the score to 30-26.

In the dying moments of the game, Science College mounted a desperate attack with a driving maul against the Thomian defence. Despite their spirited effort, they fell just short, and S. Thomas’ held on for a bonus-point victory, winning 30-26.