In a superb game at Pallekelle, Trinity College were made to eat the humble pie at the hands of visitors St. Joseph’s College who won by 20 points to 15 to cling onto their unbeaten tag in the Dialog Schools Rugby League 2022 last week.
The contest was a much looked forward to event and all eyes were on the Joes who look really threatening to pocket the title this year with a heavy and robust set of forwards that can match any side or go a step further to out-play their rivals in the fray.
For the Joes Naveen Marasinghe and Randika Dhananjaya crossed the line to sore a try each while Dilhara Subash put over the two conversions and fired across two penalties.
For the losing Trinity College Anuhas Kodithuwakku and Ashen Wijesuriya scored their two tries while Kovida Wickramasinghe slotted the conversion and the penalty. The Kandy team will have much soul-searching to do if they are to stay competitive for the rest of the season, meaning both their forwards and backs will have to play better cohesive rugby in keeping with their traditional image and having to please their followers like all teams.
Isipathana win
Isipathana College’s rugby team has improved immensely from the last league tournament and did well to post a runaway win over St. Peter’s College by 29 points to 17 in their match played at Havelock Park.
Even though the match was a closely contested battle for supremacy, it was the Green Machine that impressed more on the day while the Peterites or Bamba Brigade appeared to be out-of-sorts in the entire second half after Isipathana led 12-7 at half time.
Isipathana’s tries came from Venura Sangeeth Kodagoda (2), Soorya Dodangoda, Mesaada Rashvida and Tharindu Wewalapanditha while the two conversions were put over by Malith Mihisara and Rinesh Silva.
The losers St. Peter’s had their tries scored by Ashane Madugaspe (2) and Kushan Tharindu while the conversion was slotted in by Vindya De Mel.
St. Anthony’s thrash Kingswood
Winger Tiron Mariyadas scored a hat-trick of tries which guided St. Anthony’s College Kandy to thrash a hapless Kingswood College by 56 points to nil after a half time score of 24-0.
As the game progressed the St. Anthony’s outfit exerted their authority over the inexperienced Kingswood team and began mounting their three-quarter moves at will.
In the line-outs their jumpers completely out-jumped their opponents while in the loose the Antonian forwards played a tireless game.
Also their three-quarters made some superb moves which caught the Kingswood lads on the wrong foot many times over and over again in the entire match.
For the winners the tries were scored by Tiron Mariyadas (3), Sahan Keerthisiri (2), Vimasala Athukorala (2), Akesha Jayawansha and Maliksha Perera while the conversions were put over by Sahan Keerthisiri (3) and Maliksha Perera (3).
Vidyartha stun Dharmaraja 17-8
Vidyartha College defeated their home-town rival Dharmaraja College by 17 points to 8 in their match played at Nittawela.
The ball handling and the territorial game played was superb from the Vidyartha team which proved to be a little too much for the Dharmaraja lads.
Vidyartha responded with tries from Kavishka Wijerathna, Nipun Weerasinghe while Thillakaratne slotted in the two conversions and the penalty.
For the losers Thenuka Wickramasinghe scored try and Saumya Wijesiri put over the solitary penalty.
Royal beat S. Thomas’
With their heavy set of forwards, Royal College edged out their fighting opponents the Thomians 20-8 in a scrappy game of rugby at the Royal Complex last week to retaine the Michael Gunaratne Trophy.
With this win the defending league champions Royal College got back to their winning ways again.
Royal tries came from Kaveen Sasanga (2) and Abdulla Yousuf while Nabil Yahiya put over the penalty and the conversion.
For the losing Thomians Akila Perera scored the solitary try while Yehan Bulathisinghalage landed the penalty.