Samuel Maduwantha takes it over for the Antonians

Antonians got on to a flying start with a penalty in less than 2 minutes into the game as Fly half Samuel Maduwantha gave his team the lead with the kick.  (SACK 3- 0 KCK)

In a matter of minutes, the Antonians were awarded another penalty against Kingswood defense by Referee Aruna Rankothge. But this time Maduwantha failed to extend the lead.

It didn’t take much time for the Antonians to score the first try of the game with their heavy center Dinuk Amerasinghe near the left corner.  Samuel Maduwantha added the extra 2 points with the conversion.  (SACK 10- 0 KCK)

Both teams committed many errors that cost them some sure scoring opportunities. At the stroke of 30 minutes Kingswood scored their first try of the game.  A penalty to Kingswood was given near the 50m mark. Fly half Ranaweera  made a good kick for touch to win a lineout 2m away from try line. Kingswood center Tharindu Oshan scored the try but Fly half Lahiru Ranaweera missed the conversion. (SACK 10- 5 KCK)

Just before half time Kingswood winger Imesh Siriwardana scored a try under the post after intercepting the ball from a mistake by Antonians. Lahiru Ranaweera made no mistake in adding the extra 2 points to get the vital lead before the half time. (SACK 10- 12 KCK)

Half Time  SACK 10- 12 KCK

Antonians responded back in no time after the break as  the league’s highest points scorer Samuel Maduwantha added another 3 points to regain the lead for his team with an accurate penalty 30 meters away. (SACK 13- 12 KCK)

In the 10^th minute of the 2^nd half referee Rankothge awarded another penalty for the Antonians near the 10m mark.  Antonians trusted their kicking machine  Maduwantha once again and he nailed another brilliant long distance kick at goal to extend team’s lead by 6 points. (SACK 16- 12 KCK)

 St. Anthony’s College vs Kingswood College – Schools Rugby 2016 

Kingswood then brought on a splendid try in  the left corner through Fly Half Lahiru Ranaweera after a strong 20m run by no 8 Shenesh Kaushika through  the Antonian defense. Lahiru Ranaweera missed the conversion. (SACK 16- 17 KCK)

The game got to the business end with some tense play but both teams couldn’t capitalize off any chances they got. Kingswood Full back Marambe and Number 8 Shenesh Kaushika got close to the line for Kingswood but was brought down by the  Antonian defense in the end.

In the last 5 minutes Kingswood displayed some of their best rugby of the season so far and scored a try under the post to extend their lead. Scrum half Heshan Jansen scored the try but Lahiru Ranaweera failed to add the vital 2 points with an easy conversion which later affected the result of the game. (SACK 16- 22 KCK)

At that point of the game it looked like the Antonians had lost their chance to come back into the game and even some spectators began to leave the stadium, but the team gave it their everything in that final few minutes of the game. Prop Shenal Dias crossed the line for Antonians but referee held it up and awarded a scrum for the Antonians. They  managed to get the possession with a lineout awarded 30meters away from the try line.  Antonian Full back Praboda Bandara crossed the try line from the right corner for their final try of the game after collecting a very good short pass from Dinuk Amerasinghe.  (SACK 21- 22 KCK)

The game was still not over as the Antonians had to make a difficult 40m conversion to finish above Kingswood. It couldn’t have been left with a better man as the season’s highest points scorer was given the task. There was a deep hush over the Bogambara stadium as he took steps to make his last conversion of the game.  It was a perfectly timed conversion and Samuel Maduwantha was again the hero that saved his team from a defeat.

Full Time : SACK 23- 22 KCK