A second half rally by Trinity helped Trinity overcome Zahira by 29 points to 12 in the first semi-final of the Dialog Schools Knockout Rugby tournament played at the Royal Sports Complex ground in Reid Avenue yesterday.

The two sides shared honours in the first half and ended by securing 12 points each while Trinity chalked up 17 points in the second session as they accumulated their points through three goals, a try and a penalty to a goal and a try scored by Zahira. Zahira gave some torrid moments for Trinity after the Lions scored in the opening minute tries through prop forward Manusha Silva with full back Shan Althaf adding the extra points. The Lions’ second try came in the 12th minute with Althaf going over for an unconverted try. 

From there on Zahira fought back putting the Trinitians under pressure and succeeded in breaching the defence through No. 8 Shahib Ishan with winger Gihan Saraph adding the conversion.

Zahira continued their attack and gave the Trinitians some anxious moments and scored in the 25th minute through winger Ghani Saraph on the left corner flag for an unconverted try with ‘lemons’ with the scores tied at 12-12.
On resumption Trinity dominated by executing a different game plan leaving their defence in tatters. 

Flanker Abdeen Hamza scored in the 10th minutes with Althaf adding the extra points to surge ahead 19-12. It took another 15 minutes for the next Trinity try by skipper and centre Usman Safraz with Althaf converting to stretch the lead to 26-12.

Althaf kicked astray a penalty but made amends ten minutes later by with another penalty to extend their tally to 29-12. Trinity will now meet with the winner of the second semi-final between defending champions Isipathana and Royal scheduled to be played at the Sugathadasa Stadium tomorrow.