Naveen Henakankanamge scored a breath taking last minute try to snap Royal College’s undefeated streak in the league and the Michael Gunarathne trophy in a cliff-hanging 21 (3T 3C) – 15 (2T 1C 1P) victory at the Royal Sports Complex.
Thomians most lethal weapon this season, Henakankanamge rarely got the ball but in the two instances he did, produced two outstanding tries ending Royal’s 11 match unbeaten streak in the league dating back to last season and win the 53rd Michael Gunarathne trophy they last won in 2013.
The hosts were however the dominant side throughout the match as the Thomian forwards, though they looked determined, were clueless against the well drilled Royal pack.
Early on Royal got a 42 metre penalty but Ovin Askey’s kick had only the distance but not the direction as S.Thomas’ in their first attack utilized the backs only to see Mayon Jayawardena knocking-on the ball after a good run into the 22metre.
The next quarter belonged to Royal, as they gave a taste of what’s to come with the rolling maul drilling back the opposition forwards and earning a few penalties in the process. They were successful with Hamza Reeza going over on the left from a close range maul. Askey this time had the direction from an acute angle to convert. (07-00)
Thomians were reduced to 14 men after Tehan Perera got his second yellow card in as many matches for continuous infringements at scrums and rucks. Royal looked to add to the advantage but the Thomians fought back with the defense being resolute against the tide.
Tactically S.Thomas’ had the know-how to disrupt the rolling maul but the execution was poor, adding to the fact that they spurned a couple of kickable penalties, while Royal forwards were smarter with theirs.
Reeza was sin-binned soon after Perera came on and the visitors pressed on with the forwards with the try-line in sight and Ashwantha Herath barged over for the try and converted himself to equalize the scores. (07-07)
Thomians made a couple of changes with Sachitha Jayathilaka and Addesha Handunpathirana coming on for Malinda Deshapriya and Shaniv Ahangama but Jayathilaka’s mistake on the stroke of halftime gave away a penalty which Askey accepted gleefully. (10-07)
S.Thomas’ looked rejuvenated side after halftime as they took the game to the Royalists with Herath again in the thick of action breaking the defense for a 60metre dash and the forwards ground on thereafter. Thomians camped inside the opposition 22metre for almost 10 minutes before finally scoring after failing to capitalize on a few over-laps.
Danuja Wijerathna picked out Henkankanamge with a long cut-out pass and with Janidu Dilshan and Andrew De Silva unable to tackle the speedster, he went over the try-line in the 58th minute. Herath added the two extra points. (10-14)
There on in it was the hosts who completely out played the visitors with brilliant forwards play and rolling mauls. Once again Reeza was on the end of a perfect rolling maul to score but Askey narrowly missed the crucial conversion. (15-14)
Thomians looking for a score were sent back by the boot of Ashok Vijaykumar who had an excellent game firstly at fly-half and then at scrum half guiding his forwards. The rolling maul was creating havoc as the Thomians kept conceding penalties, resulting in Handunpathirana getting a yellow card, with minutes ticking by.
However having to play the final few minutes with 14 men the ‘Thomian Grit’ came to life as the School by the Sea started the march from deep in their own half.
Inside the opposition half they received a scrum and scrum-half Senal de Silva used the blind-side and Sarith Nanayakkara released Henakankanamge who simply left Sabith Feroze and Mahima Gamage for dead, to score the scintillating winning try, reviving the memories from a couple of months back when they last visited the Royal Sports Complex, where they left it till the end to win the Sevens Championship against Isipathana College.
“They (Royal) played really well and were organized. We once again lacked execution but to win after playing badly is always nice. Naveen was exceptional and was the difference, we should have got the ball out to him more but a lot to work on,” Thomian coach Laga added.
“We had the belief even in the dying moments and I am overjoyed to have scored the winner. Everyone played their part,” an ecstatic Henakankanamge mentioned with a wide smile on his face.
(ThePapare)
