St. Joseph’s outclass St. Anthony’s, move into semis

Action from the match between St. Joseph’s and St. Anthony’s at Royal Sports Complex ground
-Picture by Kushan Pathiraja

By M. Shamil Amit

St. Joseph’s College outclassed St. Anthony’s College by 34 points to 14 and advanced into the semi-finals of the Dialog Schools Rugby Knockout tournament, at the Royal Sports Complex Ground in Reid Avenue yesterday.
St. Joseph’s, having taken a comfortable 26-07 lead at the breather, made up their points through three goals, two tries and a penalty to the two goals scored by St. Anthony’s.

St. Joseph’s scored first in the sixth minute of the match, burly No. 8 Naveen Marasinghe going under the posts to score, with Fly-Half Dilhara Subash making the easy conversion. 

The Josephians’ early lead was short-lived as the Antonians struck back and made it equal three minutes later through scrum half Malishka Perera, the conversion being booted over by fly half Sahan Keerthisiri.

From there on the two sides closely tussled before the Josephians ran riot by planting three tries within the space of 13 minutes – Winger Deshan Tharuka going over for two tries and sandwiching a try by flanker Sachinthana Waidyanada. Fly-Half Subash converted two of the three tries to consolidate a 26-07 half-time lead. 

On resumption, the Josephians stretched their lead with a penalty in the second minute, booted over by Subash.
Two minutes later the Antonians replied with Scrum-Half Malishka Perera going over for his second try of the match and fly half Sahan Keerthisri making no mistake with the conversion.

The Josephians were reduced to 13 players, but their stiff defense was impenetrable for the Antonians. 
St. Joseph’s iced the game when center Randika Dahamjaya went over for an unconverted try which ensured them a convincing 34-14 victory.

Referee – Dilum Deeshana