Another comeback game as St Peter’s tarnish Trinity’s unbeaten record to win by 22 points to 20
Scrum & Engage for SriLankaSports.com with Christopher Jordashe
Scriptwriter: Brian Thomas
You can’t win every game, can you? Cup champions Trinity could not maintain their unbeaten record as they looked tardy and not themselves from the start. They lost three key players in the second half due to injury and played with 14 men for the last 10 minutes, despite leading 20 points to 5 in the 45th minute.
They lost focus, with four regular players missing: ball carrier Arkash Fernando due to a head injury; Jayasena with a blood injury; Neth Kumarasinghe, the co–co-vice-captain (who incidentally won the Player of the Tournament award) with a hip injury; and ball carrier Satish Kumar with a red card.
St Peter’s must be congratulated for taking advantage of the situation and making Trinity look confused with excellent attack and defence. Playmaker Shan Altaf butter-fingered vital passes, losing valuable possession in the process, and the Peterites undoubtedly looked the better outfit today. Their forwards dominated for sure.
St Peter’s 5 Trinity 0
From the kick-off, the Peterites tested the Trinity defence, and surprisingly, they could not prevent the forward drive by the strong Peterite pack. They formed a ruck in the 4th minute, and Revan Perera barged through to score an unconverted try.
St Peter’s 5 Trinity 3
The Peterites starved Trinity of possession. In 20 minutes, the Lions lost the ball with a couple of forward passes, were slow to the breakdown, and failed to reach the opposition receivers off territorial kicks. It looked lacklustre until the Peterites conceded an infringement in their 22-metre line in the 20th minute, allowing Altaf to open Trinity’s account with a penalty to cut the deficit to 5–3.
Half-time: Trinity 10 St Peter’s 5
Trinity looked out of sorts, either not playing their A-game or not being allowed to by a well-drilled Peterite side playing to a clear plan. Many will ask: was it the excessive pressure of being favourites, or were they too jaded after winning eight games on the trot?
Their speedy line looked flat-footed until they forced an infringement from the Peterites and worked the ball wide for Altaf to touch down on the right. He converted his own try, and Trinity scored in the nick of time before half-time.
The body language suggested disappointment despite a five-point lead at the break.
Trinity 17 St Peter’s 5
Trinity had a more positive approach after the break. They began playing their brand of rugby, forcing the Peterites to defend against sustained pressure. Trinity were awarded a penalty try when Arkash Fernando, over the whitewash and about to score, was stopped illegally by a Peterite forward’s intentional head clash. Fernando left the field with a mild concussion, while the offender was sent to the sin bin. Trinity’s lead was now comfortable, but the loss of their main ball carrier was a concern.
Trinity 20 St Peter’s 5
In the 45th minute, Trinity forced another infringement from the visitors. This time, skipper Usman Shafraz opted for a kick at goal, and Altaf converted the penalty to extend the lead to 20–5. Trinity looked in command and back to their winning ways. However, Evin Jayasena, a key forward for Trinity, was forced off with a blood injury.
Trinity 20 St Peter’s 12
Trinity should have thrown caution to the wind, but their body language betrayed concerns about losing two playmaking forwards. A third injury, to Neth Kumarasinghe, took its toll on their defence.
A costly error came when Shan Altaf misjudged a high ball, knocking it forward and allowing the Peterites to take control. They used their weight advantage in the ruck, enabling Revan Perera to score his second try under the posts. Emith Jayaweera, who had saved St Peter’s on several occasions with his booming touch-finders, added the conversion.
Trinity 20 St Peter’s 19
Trinity’s troubles deepened when the Peterites launched an all-out attack. Altaf knocked on again, and moments later, Satish Kumar was shown a red card. Trinity’s defence faltered under repeated infringements, and the Peterites made them pay, scoring their third try through a forwards’ rush. The conversion was good.
Full-time: St Peter’s 22 Trinity 20
With a one-point deficit, St Peter’s struck gold when the kick-off from the centre was overcooked. The referee called for a scrum at halfway, and the Peterites knew Trinity’s defence was in tatters with 14 men and three regular players sidelined. They drove through the defence to score under the posts from a pick-and-drive.
The Peterites ended Trinity’s unbeaten record with a well-deserved 22–20 victory in their own backyard.
Trinity may have won the league, but the grim faces told the story: they did not play up to expectations. This loss will hurt, especially with the Bradby looming in two weeks. They will need to regroup quickly.
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