D.S Senanayake College handed Dharmaraja College a drubbing at Longdon Place as the Visitors were thumped 44 (6T 4C 2P) – 12 (2T 1C) in the Dialog Schools Rugby League 2024 played on the 15th of June.
The Rajans got off to a dream start as they picked up a loose ball to score the game’s first try in surprising fashion, shocking the Dons’ faithful. The Dharmaraja winger, Bihanga Yapabandara, rounded off the effort under the posts, giving Sadeesa Weerawansa an easy conversion to put the visitors in the lead in the early exchanges. (DS 00-07 Rajans)
From then on, it was pretty much the hosts who took the onus upon themselves and didn’t look back.
The home team changed the momentum with a penalty off the boot of skipper Umagiliyage as the Rajans’ defense was caught infringing. (DS 03-07 Rajans)
Two tries in the first half meant the game was pretty much put to bed by the Dons, giving the Rajans plenty to ponder.
First, lock forward Jithnula scored for DS as Umagiliyage was on fire with his kicks from the tee.
He added the extras and then moments later a second penalty to ensure the deficit was turned around. (DS 13-07 Rajans)
Winger Janindu Wijerathna impressed from the onset, managing his first try of the game before halftime, giving the hosts a comfortable 13-point lead. Umagiliyage made no mistake from the tee, sending the hosts into lemons in prime position.
Half time: DS Senanayake College 20 (2T 2P 2C) lead Dharmaraja College 07 (1T 1C)
The second half was pretty much the same as DS only dispatched the Rajans, as the visitors posed no threat whatsoever.
The DS forwards came to the party, as Omika Lison scored the first try of the second half, before an early try-of-the-season contender was set up by NDB Players of the Match – Janindu Wijerathna.
He beat five would-be tacklers, offloading to replacement Dewmith, who dotted down to put the game to bed.
The Dons’ bonus point try was followed by two further tries from Samarakoon and Weligamage as the home team ran away with the game.
The visitors managed a consolation try through lanky lock forward Wickramage, as that was all they could manage in the second half, conceding the game to a much better DS outfit and returning to Kandy empty-handed.
Full time: DS Senanayake College 44 (6T 4C 2P) beat Dharmaraja College 12 (2T 1C)
- NDB Player of the Match – Janindu Wijerathna (DS)
Points Breakdown - D.S Senanayake – Shehanda Umagiliyage 14 points (4 Conversions and 2 Penalties), Janidu Wijerathne 5 points (1 Try), Omika Lison 5 points (1 Try), Thimath Jinthula 5 points (1 Try), Chamod Dewmith 5 points (1 Try), Chenitha Weligamage 5 points (1 Try), Malith Samarakoon 5 points (1 Try)
- Dharmaraja – Bihanga Yapabandara 5 points (1 Try), Ravindu Wickramage 5 points (1 Try), Sadeesa Weerawansa 2 points (1 Conversion)
 – 12 (2T 1C) in the Dialog Schools Rugby League. ){kind=link}