Coming up the ladder with much struggle and sacrifice, the emerging force of the hill-capital, Dharmaraja College Kandy went on to literally massacre the defending champions of the rugby league title Isipathana College as the Kandy lads went on celebrate their first victory for the 2013 season beating their counterparts 35 points to 8 at Bogambora this evening.
Trudging into this year’s season with high intentions, Dharmaraja College Kandy fielded in one of their greatest outfits this year. This was clearly visible from their season opener against Trinity College Kandy where they almost went on to secure a historic win. Having that morale booster instilled within them, the Rajans came into thegame opting to go for victory at all costs.
The defending champions were having a hard time right from the start where they lost their starter to the Wesley last week which was a disappointment for the heavyweights Isipathana and this loss would increase the pressure on them.
The game kicked off amidst overcast conditions at Bogambora with Dharmaraja taking the upper-hand from the kick off whistle. The first half was a one sided game with the visitors not even being able to move on to their half till the dying stages of play. It was the home team dominance, in all forms of play, that was visible throughout. The Green brigade was helpless in their attempts to even go into their attacking half until the first 30 minutes of play. Amongst the maroon outfit, there was one player who was a standout in the first half who took his team to an altitude which the Isipathanians found it impossible to reach.
Fullback Thilina Wijesinghe was the key player for Dharmaraja as he dominated play with his own art of execution in the first half. Thilina Wijesinge crossed over for two tries during the first half while scrum-half Ishanka Melan crossed over for one try during the first phases of play. It was indeed a complete annihilation at the Bogambora Stadium with tries flooding in from all parts. Thilina was able to convert one of the tries scored and kicked another drop goal to take the Rajans score to 20 points to nil with more than 25 minutes play having elapsed.
The visitors were only limited to words where all of their attempts to break through the Rajans defense was unsuccessful and the Green’s skipper Tharanatha was attempting on all possible means to move on to their attacking half. There was an attempt finally by the Isipathana NO8 Premaratna for the first time in the first half but failed to capitalize as he lost control of the ball at the try line.
Dharmaraja capitalized on the visitor’s mistakes and a loose ball which landed in no man’s land was chased successfully by the winger Weerasekara who scored and converted the try for his team to take the lead further far to 27 points. Isipathana however started their scoring with a penalty during the dying stages of the first half by Kongahawaththa which concluded proceedings giving the Rajans a 25 point lead over the defending champions.
HT 27-03
The second half exposed Isipathana’s attacking style of play but with pressure mounting high, the Green’s were limited to a framework. Several attempts were made by skipper Tharanatha at the right corner to break through the defense but lack of support bared him of scoring. No8 Ranasinge was the highlight man for the visitors as he lead his way through at all costs through the heavy Rajans defense but he did not have the adequate push to haul over.
With more than ten minutes elapsing, it was the home team that scored through one of their set pieces in the corner wing picking the gap through the defense. The try went unconverted but it increased the lead by another five points.
Isipathana showed some attacking breaks in the second half, a somewhat better display than the first session but they could not chase down the huge deficit of over 25 points. Isipathana’s first try came in the 20th minute of play where Premaratna gushed his way through finally to the try line but that was not sufficient to chase down the Rajan’s reply. Skipper Rochana Hettiarachchi made sure it was a definite victory for his team as he kicked a 50m drop-goal which took his team score to 35 points.
The game ended with a clear winner Dharmaraja College registering a record victory against defending champions Isipathana College. This indeed turns tables in the rugby league with the Rajans showcasing that they consist of some great potential this season.
On the whole Dharmaraja was the better side at the end of the day. They maximized on the miniature mistakes of their counterparts which made way for their dominance in the game. Dharmaraja College Kandy surely would create the biggest upheaval in this year’s rugby season which has just begun.
*Man of the Match – Thilina Wijesinghe
