D S Senanayake College managed to end the unbeaten run of Science College, as a superlative second half by DS forwards got them over the line 29 (4T,3C,1T) points to 15 (2T,1T,1P). DS came back from trailing in the beginning of the second half to score three back to back tries to stay alive in the plate segment in the Singer Schools Rugby League 2018.
The unbeaten Science College outfit came into this as favourites as they beat Dharamaraja College comprehensively while DS lost a close encounter to Vidyaratha College in Kandy last weekend and for DS this was a must win game. Conditions were not well suited for rugby at Havelock Park as Vishal Akalanka kick started the proceeding under heavy rain. Despite the bad conditions Science College backs continued their terrific form where the play-maker Hasaranga Akmeemana spotted a gap in the DS defence and gained valuable yards with an offload to the centre Kavinda Pathirana who gained more yards and another timely offload to Hashan Madumadawa got him over the line to open the scoring . (DS 00 – 05 SC)
With the early score Science dominated possession but lost Denuwan Silva for foul play as he was sent to the sinbin.
Few phases later DS managed to reduce their deficit through a Dinusha Hemasiri penalty.
Underfoot conditions got worse as the game moved on and it helped DS as their forwards slowly and steadily gain yards and scored through Ishanka Sandaruwan from a pick and drive with Mafaz Brantha adding the valuable extra points. (DS 10 – 05 SC)
Science faced a huge blow when their full back Hashan Madumadawa faced a serious knee injury and he was stretched off from the game.
Science managed to cut down the DS lead from a penalty in the dying stage of the first half as Akasha Ravisinghe bisected the uprights.
Half time: D S Senanayake College 10 (1T, 1C,1P)– 08 (1T,1C) Science College
Science started the second half on a high note as their backs made a few promising moves and scored through their flanker Sashan Manasinghe as DS fly half Akalanka made a huge mistake as he missed the pass from the fivemeter scrum and Manasinghe collected the ball and scored for Science. Akmeemana added the important two points. (DS 10 – 15 SC)
DS took advantage of Science College mistakes as they were pushed back to their own try line. DS won a 5 meter scrum where skipper Chamuka Seshan scored under the post from a pick and drive and Hemasiri took his team to a lead with a easy conversion.(DS 17 – 15 SC)
Despite the bad underfoot conditions DS forwards had more possession and territory as their forwards gained yards slowly through continuous phases and finally spread the ball wide as Lalanka Wijesundra found the white wash . (DS 22 – 15 SC)
In final stages of the game Dinusha Hemasiri took a quick tap and went over to secure the game for DS.
Full Time: D S Senanayake College 29 (4T, 3C,1P)– 15 (2T,1C,1P) Science College
ThePapare.com Man of the Match: Dinusha Hemasiri (D S Senanayake College )
Breakdown
D S Senanayake College: Tries from Ishanka Sandaruwan, Chamuka Seshan , Lalanka Wijesundara & Dinusha Hemasiri Conversions by Dinusha Hemasiri (2) , Mafaz Brantha and Penalty by Dinusha Hemasiri
Science College: Tries from Hashan Madumadawa, Sashan Manasinghe Conversion by Hasaranga Akmeemana & Penalty by Akasha Ravisinghe
Send offs: (Yellow) Denuwan Silva
