It was Kingswood College, Kandy who managed to secure the Plate Championship title of the 2019 Singer Schools Rugby League courtesy of to their stunning victory against St. Anthony’s College, Kandy by 42 points to 27, down at Nittawela today, 29th June.
The ultimate decider for the Plate Championship title of the 2019 Singer Schools Rugby League was kick-started by Asiri Senavirathne of Kingswood College, Kandy. The Kings did not waste time in getting their first points on the board as Hirusha Sampath managed to bisect the posts off a penalty offered to them inside the Antonian twenty-two. (KCK 03 – 00 SACK)
A couple of minutes afterwards, the Antonians were awarded a similar penalty just outside the Kingswood 22-meter line where Tirusha Ekanayake was spot on with the kick making it even-stevens down at Nittawela. (KCK 03 – 03 SACK)
Photo Album – St. Anthony’s College vs Kingswood College | Schools Rugby League 2019
A fumble in the restart saw Hashan Sandeepa move over the whitewash close to the left-side corner flag putting Kingswood back in the lead, though Hirusha failed to add in the extras off a tight angle. (KCK 08 – 03 SACK)
A few minutes afterwards, Kingswood managed to score yet another scintillating try thanks to a wonderful offload by Hirusha Sampath to Dinal Ekanayake, who managed to touchdown near the right corner flag. Hirusha missed the left post by a whisker. (KCK 13 – 03 SACK)
The Eagles were poor in their defense throughout the first half as the Kingswood line managed to penetrate their way into the Antonian twenty-two over and over again. This ultimately paved way for Kingswood number 5 Chathura Zoysa to gain 5 more points for his team. Kingswood’s kicking woes continued as Hirusha missed out on a straight forward conversion. (KCK 18 – 03 SACK)
The Kingswood line was simply too good for the Antonians to handle as they once again managed to penetrate the Antonian defense from center field. Dinal Ekanayake managed to go all the way to score his second try of the day under the post. Hirusha succeeded in adding the extras, this time around. (KCK 25 – 03 SACK)
The Antonians brought relief to their fans towards the latter part of the first half as Tirusha Ekanayake managed to move over the whitewash for the Eagles after they finally managed to hold possession for a few phases in the opposition twenty-two. However, Tirusha missed out on the conversion off a tight angle. (KCK 25 – 08 SACK)
Half Time – Kingswood College 25 (4T, 1C, 1P) – 08 (1T, 1P) St. Anthony’s College
The Antonians looked a completely different outfit since the beginning of the second half. A brilliant tackle by Antonian Prabash Gamaarachchi on Kingswood number 11 Thumula Waligampola saw the ball pop out into the Kingswood twenty-two where Kavishka Jayasooriya managed to scamper through, collect the ball and score the first try of the second half. Tirusha was spot on in bisecting the posts as the Eagles managed to narrow down the deficit to 10 points. (KCK 25 – 15 SACK)
The Eagles continued to pressure the Kings inside their half as Shashika Wijewardena managed to move over the try-line off a ruck, though Tirusha failed to add in the extras. (KCK 25 – 20 SACK)
A smart piece of play by Antonian scrum half Suhail Waseem saw him carry the ball off a ruck just outside the Kingswood twenty-two and move under the post. Fullback Tirusha Ekanayake bisected the posts as St. Anthony’s managed to gain a lead for the first time in the game. (KCK 25 – 27 SACK)
Kingswood managed to put an end to the Antonian onslaught in the second half as Hirusha Sampath managed to secure five points for his team after a few good faces created by the Kingswood forwards in the Antonian red zone. (KCK 30 – 27 SACK)
The Antonians had an opportunity to level-up once again with the Kings, after a penalty was offered just outside the Kingswood twenty-two as Mohommed Shazan was sent to the sin-bin for continuous infringements. However, the Eagles missed out on the opportunity as Tirusha failed to bisect the posts.
A few minutes later, Kingswood fly-half Asiri Senavirathne, who had a dream run with the ball throughout the game managed to score his first try as Hirusha slotted in the extras to extend their lead by 10 points. (KCK 37 – 27 SACK)
Hashan Sandeepa managed to move over the whitewash in the dying minutes of the game, thus ensuring that the Kings from Randles Hill were crowned as the Plate Champions of the 2019 Singer Schools Rugby League.
Full Time – Kingswood College 42 (7T, 2C, 1P) – 27 (4T, 2C, 1P) St. Anthony’s College
- ThePapare.com’s Player of the match – Asiri Senavirathne (KCK)
- Match Referee – Praneeth Weranga
Breakdown
Kingswood College
Tries from Hahsan Sandeepa (2), Dinal Ekanayake (2), Chathura Zoysa, Hirusha Sampath, and Asiri Senavirathne
Conversions (2) by Hirusha Sampath
Penalties (2) by Hirusha SampathSt. Anthony’s College
Tries from Tirusha Ekanayake, Kavishka Jayasooriya, Shashika Wijewardena and Suhail Waseem
Conversions (2) by Tirusha Ekanayake
Penalties (1) by Tirusha EkanayakeCautions and Sendoffs
Kingswood College – Yellow Cards for Apoorva Wijesinghe and Mohomed Shazan
