Ananda College powered their way to a stunning 32-26 victory over Science College, Mount Lavinia in their Inter-Schools Under-19 League Rugby Tournament match played at the Ananda College Grounds in Colombo yesterday.
Ananda’s victory had a great amount of significance as they were able to record an ‘A’ Division victory after a lapse of 17 long years.
The Anandians were trailing 25-26 at one stage but they came back magnificently and added the finishing touches in a spectacular manner.
S. Thomas’ overpower Zahira 43-19
S. Thomas’ College, Mount Lavinia used the power of their strong forwards and some clever backline running to overpower Zahira College by 43 points (five goals, one try, one penalty) to 19 points (two goals, one try) in a muddy Dialog Schools ‘A’ Division League Rugby encounter played yesterday at Mount Lavinia after leading 14-0 at the breather.
The Thomians led 14-0 at half time and never looked back on a rain-soaked field that made conditions tricky but their structured play gave them a decisive edge.
It took 21 minutes for the deadlock to break when S. Thomas’ full back Akith Cooray sliced through the Zahira defence with a brilliant solo run under the posts. Winger Mayanka Dias added the extras.
Just before half time, flanker Thulsie Aluvihare barged over for another converted try, again through Dias, giving the hosts a 14-0 lead at the break. Zahira struck early in the second half. A well-timed move by fly half Zayed Zahim created space on the right wing. TMO confirmed the try and winger Abdullah Hassan converted, cutting the deficit to 7-14.
But the Thomians responded quickly and fiercely. Outside centre Chanuth Eheliyagoda showed brute strength to cross the line and Dias’ boot made it 21-7. Minutes later, number eight McKyle Karunaratne dived over near the right corner and the conversion stretched the lead to 28-7.
Zahira’s Skipper Luqman Ul Nadeem gave his side a spark with a powerful try, converted by Hassan, to narrow the margin to 14-28.
Yet the home side had more in their tank. A try by Avishka Perera, awarded after TMO consultation, and another accurate conversion by Dias pushed the score to 35-14. A penalty by Dias added three more points, before Zahira hit back with an unconverted try from winger Hassan, making it 19-36.
In the final blow, Karunaratne muscled his way over for his second try of the match, and Dias converted to seal the 43-19 win for the boys from Mount Lavinia.
Referee: Jeewaka Fonseka.
Meanwhile, Trinity College powered their way to a smashing 74-14 win over Vidyartha while Royal College cruised to a resounding 53-3 victory over Sri Sumangala College.
In addition, Mahanama College had the better of Dharmaraja College 15-5 and St. Peter’s College Bambalapitiya trounced St. Anthony’s College, Katugastota 24-8.
