Isuru Madagedara of the Central Province scored after the hooter to stun Western Province 19-17, winning Gold for the second consecutive year at the Provincial Sevens Rugby tournament which rounded of at the Racecourse International Stadium.
The second day kicked off with Central Province absolutely smashing North Central Province 55-00 in the first quarterfinal. Sabaragamuwa got the better out of UVA winning 19-00 as the first Semi-final line up was completed.
Southern got over the line narrowly against North Western Province, winning 20-12 while Western Province steam rolled Eastern 42-00 to line up against Southern in the second semi-final.
Meanwhile, the Sabaragamuwa ladies and the Southern ladies booked their place in the Gold medal match with the ladies beating UVA and North Western respectively.
Following some controversy and some teams being disqualified — due to unregistered players taking part–, the games resumed as the North Western team overcame the UVA ladies 33-00 to secure the Bronze medal for the year 2018.
Favorites Southern ladies were stunned in the final as they were crushed by the Sabaragamuwa Ladies 44-00 as they took home the Gold medal, leaving Southern with the Silver medal.
The men’s Gold medal match between Central Province and Western Province was the most looked forwards to and it lived up to billing as expected.
The lads from the Central Province opened the scores following an error from Pium Jayasinghe. The former Josephian & CR half back knocked in-goal, handing an easy 7-point to his opponents.
Janith Chandimal pulled 5-points back, however, the Central lads responded with a converted try through Nalin Kumara to restore their 7-point cushion.
Youngster Sachith Silva put on the afterburners as he scored a solo try from inside his own half, converting his own effort as the two teams went into the sheds with nothing to separate them.
The second half took a more circumspect style as both teams took their foot off the gas as fatigue set in.
The laid-back approach aided the lads from the Western Province as they were rewarded with a five-pointer from Shamri Burah. The former Peterite finished in style as Central were tailing for the first time in the game.
Western Province failed to add the finishing touch time and time again, having been in the red-zone of the opposition, turning over possession after the hooter, leaving Central with one final chance to snatch the win.
Isuru Medagedara made no mistake, dashing down the far touch line, finishing following a couple of Penalties by Western.
Navy fullback and reliable Thilina Weerasinghe made no mistake with the boot from right in-front, slotting over as Central Province defended their Gold Medal from last year, to make it two-in-two.
Full time: Central Province 19 beat Western Province 17
Women’s Player of the tournament – M.A.J.T Kumari (Sabaragamuwa Province)
Men’s Player of the tournament – Aruna Perera (Central Province)
Day 2 scores:
| Team 1 | Score | Score | Team 1 | |
| Central Province | 55 | 0 | North Central Province | |
| Uva Province | 0 | 19 | Sabaragamuwa Province | |
| Southern Province | 20 | 12 | North Western Province | |
| Eastern Province | 0 | 42 | Western Province | |
| Women’s | Sabaragamuwa Province | 45 | 0 | Uva Province |
| Women’s | North Western Province | 0 | 50 | Southern Province |
| Southern Province | 7 | 26 | Western Province | |
| Women’s Bronze Medal Match | Uva Province | 0 | 33 | North Western Province |
| Women’s Gold Medal Match | Sabaragamuwa Province | 44 | 0 | Southern Province |
| Men’s Gold Medal Match | Central Province | 19 | 17 | Western Province |
