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Schools Rugby League 2022 – 1st Round Div 1, Group A
By Jason Perera
The last-minute try scored by Peterite winger Chathumina Nethsara secured a thrilling 17(3 tries, 1 conversion) to 17 (2 tries, 1 penalty) draw for St.Peter’s College Bambalapitiya over Wesley College Colombo in their Inter-School’s Rugby League 2022 encounter, played at the St.Peter’s Sports Complex on last Saturday. At half time Wesley led 14-7.
Match got off to a thrilling start and Winger Vishenka Silva opened the scoring with a try for Peter’s and went into a 7-0 lead with Emith Jayaweera slotting across the conversion. However Peterite rolling maul was countered by Wesley forwards very well and also they dominated the set pieces as they enjoyed the size and weight advantage. 
Wesley went into a 14-7 lead with two quick tries scored by scrum-half Rigesh Muralidaran and skipper Tharusha Jayaweera. Thsrusha’s individual brilliance against the run of play in scoring that try just before the half time whistle gave Wesley College hopes of a famous win at Bambalapitiya. Tharusha made success with both conversions.
At half time the score read Wesley College 14 to St. Peter’s 7.
After the turn around Peterites rallied to stage counter attack but fluffed at least two scoring opportunities, one a straight 40 yard penalty and the other would have been a sitter of a try if not for Peterite winger on the far right corner who fumbled the ball on the Wesley Goal line with no one to defend him.
However Peterites got their act together, Ashene Maligaspe scored a try off a breakdown near the Wesley goal line for the Peter’s, but Emith failed with the conversion and Peteriites were trailing 12-14.
Soon Wesley captain Tharusha Jayaweera slotted in a 35 metre penalty to increase the Wesley College lead to 17-12 with little over 05 minutes to go for the long whistle.
During the injury time St .Peter’s worked their backline and found winger Chathumina Nethsara to touch down in the far corner for a superb try but Emith missed the difficult corner flag conversion which left the final score to 17 all as Referee blew the final whistle. This was the first draw between these two sides since they started to play the series in 1956 marking 53 encounters between St.Peter’s and Wesley and Wesley’s last win at Bambalapitiya still remains to be in 1997.
Referee: Hasantha Weranga
Photo album: https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.4581865185249296&type=3
The Referee was outstanding with the whistle but without his glasses which he has left in Matis’s pocket.