By M. Shamil Amit

St. Joseph’s College produced a superb second half rally to beat St. Anthony’s College 50-24 in their Singer Under-19 Inter-Schools ‘A’ Division League Rugby Tournament encounter played at Havelock Park yesterday.

The Josephians who led 19-12 at half time collected their points through five goals and three tries against the two goals and two tries scored by St. Anthony’s.

However, it was the Antonians who drew first blood in the sixth minute from an unconverted try scored by fly half Mohamed Makareem.

The Josephians made their first scoring six minutes later with centre Gemunu Chethiya going over for a try and fly half Santhush Algama added the extras to give their side the lead.

The Darley Road Boys continued to put their opponents under pressure and succeeded in increasing their lead seven minutes later with prop forward Shevon Gregory going over for a try.

Algama made the conversion to make it 14-5.

Few minutes later Antonian flanker Isuru Ariyapala went over for a try and Makareem made the conversion.

The Josephians succeeded in further increasing their lead with Skipper and centre Sameesh Viranga going over for an unconverted try for them to lead 19-12 at the short whistle.

After the resumption Antonian flanker Ariyapala went over for his second try with the game just three minutes old.

But the Josephians got their act together well and scored three tries in-a-row in the 10th, 16th and 20th minutes respectively with flanker John Ganegoda, full back Dulanjana Tharishka and center Chethiya doing the honours.

Algama put over two conversions as the Joes stretched their lead to 38-17.

The Antonians were reduced to 13 players at this stage and the Joes took advantage to score two more tries in the space of five minutes with full back Nehan Perera and Ganegoda going over for his second try.

Algama was able to convert only one try but the Josephians were able to reach the 50 point mark.

The Antonians scored a consolation try during the latter stages.