The final match of the league for both St.Anthony’s College and Wesley College was an absolute thriller. Both teams wanted to end their season on a winning note after failing to register a win in cup segment.
St.Anthony’s won the game in final seconds with a well-executed 40m drop goal by league’s highest point scorer Samuel Maduwantha. Final score – St.Anthony’s 23 (2T, 2P, 2C 1D) Wesley 22 (3T,2C,1P) . Half time Wesley College led 19-13.
Wesley College kicked off the game at Nittawela and they looked solid. It didn’t take long for double blues to put points on the board with D.S.K.Siriwardana to cross the line for the first time in the game. (WC 05-00 SACK)
Avishka Lee failed to add the extra points with the conversion. (WC 05-00 SACK)
In a matter of minutes St.Anthony’s were awarded a penalty closer to the 22m line and League’s most successful kicker Samuel Maduwantha added the points easily. (WC 05-03 SACK)
Just 12 minutes into the game Antonians were awarded another penalty by Referee Muthumala. Samuel Maduwantha had no problem converting the opportunity to points to give the lead to his team. (WC 05-06 SACK)
Wesley College responded well after losing the lead and went on to score another try against Antonian defense from a rolling maul. This time it was the Skipper Sayan Sabar scored the try for the team. (WC 10-06 SACK)
Avishka Lee added the extra 2 points. (WC 12-06 SACK)
In the 30th minute of the game Wesley was awarded a penalty near the 50m line of the ground and skipper Sayan decided to go for kick for touch. Awantha Lee cleared the ball a few meters closer to the goal line for a line out. The lads from Colombo took the advantage of the situation and went on to score their 3rd try of the evening with winger Omar Kuthubdeen. Avishka Lee added extra 2 points with a swiftly conversion (WC 19-06 SACK)
Wesley 2nd row forward Jayaweera was sent to sin bin by the referee for a late tackle on Antonian playmaker Kumara Maduwantha. St.Anthony’s were awarded an opportunity to closer the gap with a penalty but Samuel Maduwantha’s kick didn’t make it through the posts. (WC 19-06 SACK)
Photo Album – Wesley College vs St. Anthony’s College – Schools Rugby 2016
37th minutes into the game St.Anthony’s crossed the try line for the first time with Scrum half Duminda Hettiaracchi scored a try under the post. Samuel Maduwantha made the easy conversion to closer the gap just before the half time. (WC 19-13 SACK)
Half Time – (WC 19-13 SACK)
Jehan Seelagama kicked the ball to start the 2nd half after the break and it was collected by Dayan Bahardeen. He made around 50 meters with the ball giving Antonians tough few seconds but was tackled few meters short to the 22m line.
Just 5 minutes into the game Antonian lock forward Mohamed Shabeer was shown ‘yellow’ by the referee for a high tackle. Wesley College had a good opportunity there to score their 4th try against 14 men, but the Eagles’ defense was rock solid that time. Antonians defended back to back attacks from Wesley and kept the scoreboard in same digits.
Second half both teams tried to play some good attacking Rugby but failed to cross the line for their teams. Wesley College wingers Dinera Ranaweera and Kuthubdeen were able to get good meters every time they got the ball in their hands. Even the Antonians got few good opportunities to score but failed to capitalize the chances created.
In the 70th minute of the game, Wesley was awarded a penalty against the Antonian forwards for handling in the ruck. Avishka Lee extended the lead with an easy conversion. (WC 22-13 SACK)
St.Anthony’s looked energetic in the final 10 minutes of the game and scored their second try of the game giving a hope back to their fans. Jehan Seelagama scored the try after a good team play and quick passes. The conversion wasn’t an easy angle but the League’s best kicker Samuel Maduwantha had the kicking boots on to cut the deficit in scoreboard with 2 points. (WC 19-20 SACK)
The game was open in the final few minutes and both teams gave it everything they have to push forward for a try. Wesley College was awarded a penalty to save the game but Avishka lee failed to send the ball through uprights.
With the final seconds to run on the clock, the Antonians were awarded a scrum on the 10 meter mark. It was going to be the last passage of play in the game. St Anthonies needed something magical to happen to gain victory at that point. Many people would have expected Antonians to charge forward towards try line, But It was Samuel Maduwantha who became the hero and the savior for St.Anthony’s. He collected the ball cleanly from Duminda Hettiaracchi and sent the ball sailing through uprights for a drop goal. Despite two Wesley players charging at him and under wet conditions he was able to masterfully execute that 40m conversion to give his team a fairy tale finish in the season
Full Time – (WC 22-23 SACK)
Samuel Maduwantha kicked a historical 53m drop goal last week against Trinity College in Pallekale. He has scored 13 points in today’s game and that makes his total contribution for the team 105 points. He is the only player to score 100 plus points in this year’s competition. He proved he has the capability of becoming one of the best kickers for this island nation. Wesley college played well for a result but it was Samuel Maduwantha’s brilliance that stole the game away from mighty Double Blues.
Referee – S.N Muthumala
The Papare.com Player of the match – Samuel Maduwantha (SACK)
St.Anthony’s College 23 (2T,2C,2P,1D)
Tries – Duminda Hettiaracchi , Jehan Seelagama
Conversions, penalties & Dropkicks – Samuel Maduwantha
Wesley College 22 (3T,2C,1P)
Tries – D.Sk.K Siriwardana , Zayan Sabar, Omar Kuthubdeen
Conversions and Penalties – Avishka Lee
