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Pera Scores A Hat-Trick – Inter Uni Champions Retain The Title

Category: Inter Uni 2012 Published Date Written by super user Hits: 638

In the ultimate battle for hegemony University of Peradeniya rugby team showed the true wrath of the Titans when they fought till the last minute to retain the league title of the Inter University championship. A late scare by University of Moratuwa saw the home team trailing by four points till the final minutes. But the Pera lions continued knock on Mora’s door and scored a try with mere minutes left in the clock. The final whistle blew at 11 points (1 try, 2 penalties) to 10 points (1 goal, 1 penalty). Peradeniya led the match 6-3 at half time.

Both teams showed pronounced skill in defense and kept the opposition away from the goal line in the first half. University of Peradeniya started out with some good pressure on the visiting team and capitalized on it through a penalty for a high tackle made by the Mora prop forward. Winger Padmaka Bandara was on the mark as usual while the University of Moratuwa was forced to play with only 14 players. University of Moratuwa made a swift reply through their winger Mohomed Zuhair with a penalty as well leveling the score within minutes. The struggle for the ball possession continued and the home team had to settle for yet another penalty conversion through Bandara (6-3).

The second half went in favor of University of Moratuwa as the former Peradeniya skipper and number eight, Melan Kulatunga was sent off for unruly behavior. Moratuwa didn’t waste any time with the obvious advantage and pressurized the Peradeniya scrum till their forward Ranuka Anthony touched down on the far left. The winger made a brilliant conversion from the side line giving his team a 4 point advantage. The battle continued from then on keeping the Pera fans on the edge of their seats with both teams showing the utmost devotion for rugby. In the final minutes Peradeniya caught a lucky break where skipper Hasith Wickramasinghe made a break and after passages of play Melan Kulatunga was able to score and regain the lead. The final minutes saw the Pera team give in everything to defend the Mora attack and prevail as the match ended at 11-10.

                                                                               

The match depended highly on the defending prowess of both teams and Peradeniya came through with it especially with their two flankers Hasith Wickramasinghe and Amila Senanyake. Vice-captain Dhanushka Wasala, Kanishka Wijesinghe, Yohan Perera and Akila Rathmalawinna too were outstanding in defense. The tackles they made all throughout the match would not go unheard as Pera fans will be talking about it for years to come.  With this victory University of Peradeniya will record themselves as three year consistent title holders of the Inter University Rugby Championship.