In a clash of the schools’ two titans, St. Peter’s College prevailed in a Dialog Schools’ Rugby League final that was robbed of the expectant fast gallop in a monotony slowed down battle fought out under the vagaries of rain and mud to being decided mainly on infringement penalties as the usually riotous scenario of speeding limbs took a backseat. It was to thus replace the fury associated with the rib bruising between the best of talent and muscle that combine to make rugby blockbusters that drifted to a ding dong of brain and brawn decided in the slowed down monotony of rain and mud as the Peterites drew first blood.
The quality of the two sides was such that the slowed battle drifted into the 33rd minute when St. Peter’s scored through Raul Peter’s dead center penalty near the 40-meter line. That was as much as the play to half time would produce with the Peterites returning to the middle St. Peter’s began the second half with Raul Peter once again exploiting an infringement penalty kick from the tee extending their lead to 6-0.
As in any sport from which he valiant in defeat emerge to earning the plaudits of the connoisseur, Isipathana was to end up a game loser in a final to largely dominating possession. The Havelock Park team did score from an offside infringement kick by Shaaid Zumri. To the defending champion Peterites credit was to holding their own to countering the Isipatania offensive in a back to back trophy euphoria braving the handicap of their injury stretchered out vice-captain Yumeth Shihara. It would be out of place not to mention poor refereeing that was heartbreak to the affected players.