Wesley College hosted Kingswood College at the Royal Complex yesterday (19th of July) in another Dialog Schools Rugby League encounter. This game is also a traditional encounter between the two schools, with the prestigious Blaze Trophy up for grabs. After a close first half, the Double Blues just ran away with the game in the second to win it 43-17, and won the Blaze Trophy for the third consecutive year.
Wesley College made their intentions clear for the game straightaway when they received a penalty from kickable distance, but they decided to go for the kick into touch showing they are targeting the big 5. From the line out after the kick into touch a massive rolling maul was more than enough for the Blaze Trophy defending champions to score an early try through Hashim Thabeeth. The first conversion however went astray from Mohammed Fawaz. (WC 05 – 00 KCK)
The earlier rolling maul was worked off from the left of the field and the next one arrived from a similar situation for Wesley from the right of the field,, and just like the earlier maul this one ended with a try for the double blues as Senura Peiris went over. This time the conversion was successful from Fawaz with a beautiful kick from a hard angle. (WC 12 – 00 KCK)
Kingswood College finally found some momentum through handling errors by Wesley, and as they entered the opposition half, an offside penalty took them even closer and Kavindhu Muthumala almost went all the way gaining a lot of good metres. Vice Captain for Kingswood College, Damindu de Silva, then finished the job by finding the whitewash. Rivin Baudween converted the try to decrease the deficit. (WC 12 – 07 KCK)
A few minutes after scoring their first points on the board, Kingswood College received a penalty and Baudween added the 3 points to take them even closer towards Wesley’s total. (WC 12 – 10 KCK)
Just before half Time, with Kingswood College on a roll and pulling off some good set pieces, Wesley College made a much needed comeback through Nelith Hapugala, who scored an important try to give the advantage back to his team. Although the conversion didn’t go over, the try made sure the Double Blues went to the Half Time break with the lead. (WC 17 – 10 KCK)
Half-Time : Wesley College 17 – 10 Kingswood College
Wesley College started the second half strong with a try to increase their points tally. Fawaz’s decision-making and ability to evade defenders usefully, was on full display during this try, as he took the quick tap off a penalty and almost went all the way without even being untouched, straight through the heart of the defence and gave the offload out to Peiris, who scored his 2nd try of the game. Abdul Haadhi added the two points to increase the lead. (WC 24 – 10 KCK)
Kingswood College then managed to reach the opposition 22m territory thrice, but their handling errors cost them opportunities to get points. Furthermore, to make matters worse a little kick and chase attempt by Sachintha Naveeshan got charged down by Fawaz, and there was no cover defence as Fawaz made the collection and went all the way easily. Haadhi converted the try to add two more points. (WC 31 – 10 KCK)
Mahathir Raban produced a splendid run to score the next try as Wesley College used the width of the field and worked their line from left to right, with Raban spotting a gap and going all the way. Haadhi added the extra points with another successful conversion. (WC 38 – 10 KCK)
Shifaan Imthikab scored the final try of the game for Wesley College when they found some slick passes to keep the intensity up, and the continuity of play they showed in the try was absolutely phenomenal as the Kingswood defenders really couldn’t do a lot. The final conversion was unsuccessful for the hosts. (WC 43 – 10 KCK)
To end the match, Kingswood College scored a consolation try through their Skipper Anuda Sikurajapathi, and Baudween added the two points to give some respect to their scoreline. (WC 43 – 17 KCK)
With this win Wesley College have now won the Blaze trophy for three years in a row and they will be pleased about this performance, especially about how things went in the second half. Kingswood, on the other hand, after winning a league game after 4 years just last week, would have wanted to continue the momentum with a much better performance. They had their chances, but just made too many errors, which cost them a lot of points.
Senura Peiris had an incredible game and he was a true livewire for the double blues. He switched his playing position throughout the game and made sure to play exceptionally well in each and every position. With the backline, he was tremendous as usual, but he chipped in to support the forwards as well. Adding to all of that, he scored two tries as well and was adjudged NDB Bank Player of the Match.
Full Time : Wesley College 43 (7T 4C) beat Kingswood College 17 (2T 2C 1P)
NDB Bank Player of the Match : Senura Peiris (WC)
Points Breakdown
Wesley College : Hashim Thabeeth 5 Points (1 Try), Senura Peiris 10 Points (2 Tries), Nelith Hapugalle 5 Points (1 Try), Mohammed Fawaz 7 Points (1 Try 1 Conversion), Abdul Haadhi 6 Points (3 Conversions), Shifaan Inthikab 5 Points (1 Try), Mahathir Raban 5 Points (1 Try)
Kingswood College : Damindu de Silva 5 Points (1 Try), Rivin Baudween 7 Points (2 Conversions 1 Penalty), Anuda Sikurajapathi 5 Points (1 Try)
 in another Dialog Schools Rugby League encounter. This game is also a traditional encounter between the two schools, with the prestigious Blaze Trophy up for grabs. After a close first half, the Double Blues just ran away with the game in the second to win it 43-17, and won the Blaze Trophy for the third consecutive year.){kind=link}