Vidyartha College Kandy played their hearts out against D. S. Senanayake College in a must win game to secure their place in the A division by winning the game 29 points to 21. The late charge by the home team wasn’t enough as Vidyartha were leading 21-7 at halftime and in the end emerged B division runners up.
D.S Senanayake kicked off proceedings at the Havelocks Grounds into the hands of the hungry Tigers, surrounded by the roars of the spectators who came down from Kandy. It took only 6 minutes for the Tigers to draw first blood with Pathum Jayakody scoring from the right corner. Chirantha Kaluarachchi made no mistake with the conversion. (VCK 07: DS 00)
D.S had a terrible restart with an immediate knock on and once again the Tigers were hunting for their second try. They almost made a carbon copy of the first try but was denied just on the try line. However, the try was awarded as a penalty try as Navin Siddik of D. S was guilty of a high tackle in that occasion. (VCK 14: DS 00)
With 14 minutes on the clock and a 14-point lead, the Vidyartha team too were reduced to 14 men as Rukshan Weerasinghe was sin binned for infringements in the ruck. D.S used the penalty advantage and were using their big forwards to gain meters. Finally, it was Malshan Vimukthi who scored under the post with Saranga Udawatte taking the conversion. (VCK 14 : DS 07)
The Tigers looked like they were running away with the game and disaster struck when the D. S captain Lalanka Wijesundara sin binned and the team reduced to 13 men. Vidyartha scored yet again through an overlap as Sathsara Kalugampitiya dashed his way in the left corner. (VCK 19 : DS 07)
Vidyartha College scored the bonus point try through Himasha Sewwanda in the very last minute of the first half. The Kandy school was inching their way towards the try line using the forwards and switching to their backs for a very long period of time. Kaluarachchi made no mistake in the easy conversion and D. S had a mountain to climb in the second half.
Half Time: Vidyartha College 26(3T 2C 1 penalty try): DS Senanayake College 07 (1T 1C)
The Tigers scored an additional 3 points through Chirantha Kaluarachchi who had a good day with his kicking boots. (VCK 29 : DS 07)
From their onwards it was D. S who started showing some aggression. However, they missed a number of line outs with the tall lock forward of Vidyartha College Kaveesh Wijeratne stealing the ball. D. S managed to score beside the post through the big prop forward Malshan Vimukthi. Saranga Udawatte made the easy conversion. (VCK 29 : DS 14)
Once again D. S inched their way towards the try line through their forwards and this time Yohan Hewawitharana barged over the whitewash. Saranga Udawatte’s conversion meant that only 8 points separated them in claiming a spot into the A division. (VCK 29 : DS 21)
It was a do or die situation for the home team who were crammed in their own half and were unable to move close to the try line. In a last minute move the Tigers attempted a drop goal which was skied into the air and after a clean collection, the ball was kicked into the Tiger’s territory and it was a foot race. However, the Vidyartha player got their first and kicked the ball out, following a tsunami of jubilant spectators roaring in the stadium when referee Aruna Shantha blew the long whistle.
Full Time – Vidyartha College: 29 (3T 2C 1P 1 penalty try)- DS Senanayake College: 21 (3T 3C)
- Player of the Match- Kaveesh Wijeratne
- Referee – Aruna Shantha
Score Breakdown
Vidyartha College Kandy
Tries – Pathum Jayakody, Sathsara Kalugampitiya, Himasha Sewwanda and Penalty try
Conversions and Penalties – Chirantha Kaluarachchi (2C 1P)
Yellow cards – Ruckshan WeerasingheD.S. Senanayake College
Tries – Malshan Vimukthi(2) and Yohan Hewawitharana
Conversions – Saranga Udawatte (3)
Yellow cards – Navin Siddik and Lalanka Wijesundara
