DS Senanayake College secured their third consecutive victory in the Dialog ‘A’ Division Schools Rugby League Tournament. They defeated St Anthony’s College 30-17 at Havelock Park yesterday. after leading by a narrow 15-14 margin at the breather
DS Senanayake College scored one goal, four tries, and one penalty to total 30 points. St Anthony’s College scored two goals and one penalty, totaling 17 points.
D S Senanayake opened scoring through their Number Eight, Thiven Perera. He scored a try mid-right just six minutes into the game after a rolling maul. Winger Janidu Wijeratne missed the conversion, putting DS ahead 5-0.
Shortly after, DS fullback Lasindu Bandara scored the team’s second try. He drove through Antonian forwards, received a pass, and ran around to the mid-right again. Janidu Wijeratne missed the conversion, but DS led 10-0.
In the 18th minute, St Anthony’s vice captain big prop forward Ravindu Welagedara, scored. He bulldozed through defenders and touched down under the post, for his third try of the season. Fly half Omitha Dissanayake successfully kicked the goal, narrowing the score to 10-7.
Anthony’s flyhalf Omitha Dissanayake missed a 40-metre penalty in the 21st minute. However, in the 27th minute, big forward Mohamed Faraz scored the second try for St Anthony’s. Omitha Dissanayake converted successfully, giving Anthony’s the lead at 14-10.
DS Senanayake College’s prop forward Lankesh Wickremasinghe scored the third try for the Dons. Sehanda Umagiliyage converted, putting DS ahead by one point, 15-14, as they led at half time.
After resumption DS Senanayake’s burly prop forward Chenitha Weligamage, driving a maul, touched down mid-right for the first try of the second half. Winger Janidu Wijeratne added extra points with a great kick, extending the lead to 22-14. In the 50th minute, Omitha Dissanayake put over a 22-metre penalty for St Anthony’s, reducing the deficit to 22-17.
Six minutes later, DS Senanayake’s prop forward Lankesh Wickremasinghe scored again mid-right from a maul. Janidu Wijeratne missed the conversion, but DS led comfortably 27-17. .
Two minutes later, winger Janindu Wijeratne fired across a 22-metre penalty with a splendid kick, putting DS Senanayake College ahead 30-17. at the final whistle.
SAJEEWA JAYAKODY
