Petersons and Science ‘Maroons’ win in Under-24 Rugby Tourney
Petersons SC and Science ‘Maroons’ made a winning start to the SLR Nippon Paint Under-24 League 15-A-Side Rugby Tournament, which began last week. The two teams proved too strong to their opponents as they cleared their initial hurdle of this new look tournament, which has been revived after a lapse of more than 10 years.
Petersons SC rallied around magnificently to beat the Field Force SC Team 35-10 under severe weather conditions while Science ‘Maroons’ showed early promise to defeat the Old Wesleyites Sports Club (OWSC) 22-7 with both matches being played at the Thurstan College Grounds in Colombo.
There were several positives that all four teams would like to take forward to the next stage of the competition as the players enjoyed the game with some of them coming out after a break of almost three years.
The deadly COVID-19 pandemic had certainly dampened their hopes and the chances of playing any competitive rugby for a long period, but this tournament has really revived their fortunes and given them a great opportunity to display their skills at the highest level.
In fact, the tournament will be conducted in keeping with the World Rugby (WR) format while providing great opportunity for youth rugby in the country and all matches will be officiated by the members of the Sri Lanka Society of Rugby Football Referees.
In another positive move, some of the top ‘A’ Division Clubs in Colombo have already targeted a few players who had excelled in the opening two matches of the tournament and are on the verge of recruiting them ahead of the SLR 2022/23 ‘A’ Division League Tournament, which kicks off on December 9.
Fly half Nadun Kaveesha could probably be one of the players, who would soon make it to the top league following his heroics with the boot for Science ‘Maroons’ in the game against OWSC.
He was easily the standout player for the team on Sunday and contributed a total of 17 points out of 22, in the form of five penalties and a conversion.
The major issue both teams faced during this contest was the lack of understanding as they were playing together probably for the first time but could polish off things as the tournament progresses.
Nevertheless, all four teams were really determined to get on with the game and this was very clear when Petersons SC and the Field Force SC players decided to continue playing under extremely severe weather conditions for the last few minutes of the game.
Meanwhile, the Provincial Tournament, which is conducted in parallel to the Under-24 League Tournament produced two one-sided results during the opening week of matches.
The favourites Western Province went on the rampage to hammer Uva Province 119-0 at the Vincent Dias Stadium in Badulla while North Western Province routed Central Province 56-12 at Kurunegala.