DS continue on their merry way

Dialog Schools Rugby League 2024

By
Romario De Silva
-
28
DS v SACK

DS Senanayake College made it 3 from 3 as they defeated a hapless St. Anthony’s outfit 30 (5T 1C 1P) – 17 (2T 2C 1P) to kick off week 3 of the Dialog Schools’ Rugby League 2024.

The hosts were red-hot favorites coming into the game, having dismantled two sides from Kandy prior to their 3rd game of the campaign.

The Eagles, on the other hand, had a torrid start to the 2024 season, still searching for their maiden victory. 

The home team got off to a flyer as expected, as big No. 8 Thiven Perera crashed over the whitewash from the tail of a maul to open the scoring. Janindu Wijerathna failed with the extras (DS 05-00 SACK). 

DS soon doubled their lead thanks to Rasindu Bandara, as the fullback found space out wide, stepping on the gas to score beside the posts for the home team. Wijerathna failed with the extras yet again, but the Dons got off to the perfect start thanks to the two early scores. 

With the game highly in favor of the home team, skipper Oshan Gunarathne stepped up to the plate, giving some direction to the visitors. 

Moments later, big center Welagedara got into the act, scoring the opener for the visitors, set up by five-eighth Dissanayake.

The youngster threw a head-fake, which was bought by the DS line, and once Welagedara got in on the act with a step, there was no stopping him from crashing over with two would-be tacklers on his back.

Dissanayake added the extras as momentum shifted slightly in favor of the visitors (DS 10-07 SACK).

It was the visiting Eagles who managed to soar high, scoring their second of the evening, this time through big man Senarathne. 

Young nippy winger Gunewardena found himself in space, gliding through the Dons defense and making a clean line break to give the Antonians an opportunity which they took with both hands, as the forwards kept the ball tight and close with them, and Senarathne added the finishing touches to that passage of play. 

Dissanayake did not forget his kicking boots, as he slotted over the second conversion to give the visitors the lead for the first time in the game, on the brink of halftime (DS 10-14 SACK). 

Halftime couldn’t have come any quicker for the visitors. However, Lankesh and co. piled the pressure on the Eagles as they felt the heat, only to come crashing down. 

First, in the dying embers of the half, Lankesh crashed over for his first of the game as the home team’s maul found its feet. 

Skipper Umagiliyage assumed kicking duties, but the result was the same as he too failed with the extras. However, the hosts went into lemons with a slender 1-point lead. 

Halftime: DS Senanayake College 15 (3T) lead St. Anthony’s College Kandy 14 (2T 2C) 

With a task at hand, the Dons came out of the sheds with their sights set on the target, knowing that they would need to bring their A-game if they were to get anything out of this fixture. 

It took the hosts just minutes before they scored their 4th try, extending their lead and securing the bonus point, this time through Weligamage. Janindu Wijerathna added the conversion, his first of the evening as the hosts added to their lead (DS 22-14 SACK). 

Dissanayake added a solitary penalty in the second half, as that was that for the visitors, being dominated by the home team. 

It was pretty much all DS from then on as they managed two further scores before the game ended. 

First, NDB Player of the Match Lankesh crashed over from the tail of the maul, and in the dying embers, Janindu added a penalty to make it 30 points for the evening as the Dons go marching on, on their merry way! 

Full time: DS Senanayake College 30 (5T 1C 1P) beat St. Anthony’s College Kandy 17 (2T 2C 1P) 

  • NDB Player of the Match: Lankesh Wickramasinghe (DS) 

Points Breakdown: 

DS: Thiven Perera 1T, Lankesh Wickramasinghe 2T, Rasindu Bandara 1T, Chenitha Weligamage 1T, Janindu Wijerathna 1C 1P 

 

SACK: Welagedara 1T, Senarathne 1T, Dissanayake 2C 1P 

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