Thomians upset Petes – Archibald Perera Trophy 2015

S. Thomas’ made a superb come back late in the second half to upset the Peterites 25 (1 goal, 3 tries, 1 penalty) to 17 (1 goal, 2 tries) in their key Singer League under 20 inter-school’s game worked off at Bambalapitiya yesterday. At half time the Peterites led 10-8. Thomians thus won the Archibald Perera Trophy, which was introduced in 1982.
Thomians opened scoring through a penalty kick in the 6th minute of the game, and a few minutes after the kick off Peters took the lead when Harshana Peries scored an unconverted try.
Number eight Sachintha Jayathilaka scored the first try for S.Thomas College in the seventeenth minute, which was unconverted to take the lead (8-5). In the 35th minute of the game the Petes vice captain Nishon Perera scored a superb unconverted try to end the first half 10 – 8 in their favour.
On resumption of the second half Nishon got into action to score his second try (converted) to increase the lead. Thomian skipper Hasith Senanayake scored another unconverted try with the support of Ishaaq Jurampathy within the next five minutes to add another five points and reduce the pressure (STC 13- SPC 17).
In the 29th minute Sachintha score his second converted try to give the lead to the Thomians for the first time. The 37th minute was the turning point of the game, when Naveen Henakankanamage scored an unconverted try in the left corner, giving the Thomians their first victory in the second round (STC 25 – SPC 17).