The hometown rivalry between the two teams Dharmaraja and Kingswood ended with an emphatic win to the Rajans in front of a packed house at the Nittawela. The final score read 53 (7T 6C 2P) points to 32 (5T 2C 1P) in favor of Dharmaraja.
Kingswood took the early lead at the 20th minute mark10-7 courtesy of an early penalty by Ranaweera and a converted try by Sachintha Senevirathne while it was Pramuditha Hasaranga who scored for Dharmaraja to cut off the deficit to a mere three points. Dharmaraja continued their good form before the break as they ran past the Kingswood defense exploiting gaps at will. In-between the tries, Gihan Ishara was able to pinch a penalty while converting all 4 tries scored in the first half and he went onto score two tries. It was 31 points to 15 at the breather with Dharmaraja taking a well-deserved lead. For Dharmaraja it was T.D.Piyatissa the speedster who played at the right wing who went over twice in the first half as Gihan Ishara and Pramuditha Hasaranga scored the other two tries. For Kingswood Tharindhu Oshadha pulled back a try to close the huge margin just before the half time whistle.
Half Time; Dharmaraja 31 (4T 4C 1P) – 15 (2T 1C 1P) Kingswood.
Kingswood started the second half with a bang scoring 3 back to back tries in quick successions cutting to a point margin. Sachintha Senevirathne, Asiri Senevirathne and Rimzan Alith were the ones who got on the scoreboard. All these tries came off some set moves which they executed to pin point accuracy. Ranaweera managed to convert only one of these tries to bring the score to 32-31. The game started boiling up for the crowd as both teams managed to penetrate each other’s defenses but without any points for their efforts to show. However in the last 20 minutes Dharmaraja ran away with the game even though their number 8 Tharaka Silva was sin binned. Bawantha Udangamuwa, Gihan Ishara and Pramuditha Hasaranga were the try scorers. Gihan Ishara the Rajans kicker managed to put through a penalty and convert 2 of the 3 second tries to bring their score to a halt at 53. Bawantha Udangamuwa was the main architect of 2 of the three tries and the third he kept it all by himself. They ended a minute after the allocated 80 minutes with Dharmaraja securing a win over the unbeaten Kingswood team 53 points to 32 at Nittawela.
Full Time; Dharmaraja 53 (7T 6C 2P) – 32 (5T 2C 1P)
ThePapare.com’s Player of the Match: Bawantha Udangamuwa (Dharmaraja)
Score breakdown
Dharmaraja Pramuditha Hasaranga (2T), Dulantha Piyatissa (2T), Bawantha Udangamuwa (1T), Gihan Ishara (2T 6C 2P)
Kingswood Sachintha Senevirathna (2T), Asiri Senevirathne (1T), Tharindhu Oshadha (1T), Rizman Alith (1T), Lakshan Ranaweera (2C 1P)
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Antonians run over the Tigers.
The second match of the plate ended today at the Nittawela with the Antonians winners despite a very poor first half. The match finished 62 (10T 6C) – 28 (4T 4C) in favor of the Antonians. Anthony’s scored most of their tries through their bulky forwards with the first by Jithen Daulagala who went over in the far side to give them the early lead.
However Vidyartha scored back to back converted tries through K. Samaraweera and D.Thissa to lead at the 15 minute mark 14 points to 05. Antonians hit back with 3 tries in reply in the next 15 minutes of the game, they let their forwards pick and go which made them vital ground. Ruvan Amerasinghe the prop forward scored 2 tries on the either of a Dinesh Rodrigo try. However only the Rodrigo try was converted by the fly half winger Mohommed Makarim giving Anthony’s a 22-14 lead with around 5 minutes to go in the first half. Vidyartha scored on the brink of half time through their flanker Mohommed Shadir who made a good run for about 30m before touching down. The Fly Half M.Hettiarachchi of Vidyartha had a brilliant game with his boot as he made some good kick and converted all three tries giving them some hope in an upset. The first half ended their as one point separated both teams 22 points to 21.
Half Time; St.Anthony’s 22 (4T 1C) – 21 (3T 3C) Vidyartha
It was one-way traffic after lemons at Nittawela where the Antonians ran in another 6 tries to the single try of Vidyartha. Mohommed Shabeer and Ruvan Amersinghe got on the score sheet in quick succession before the substitute winger D. Liyanage went over for the 3rd try in the first 10 minutes of the second half. All three tries were under the posts and were converted easily by Makarim.
Vidyartha then made their only try in the second half through skipper N.Kaluarachchi and then again the Antonians went over again thrice through Shabeer and M.Wanasinghe who scored twice in the last few minutes. Makarim missed only one of the three conversions. The referee then brought the game to an end with St.Anthony’s winning 62 points to 28 at Nittawela.
Full Time; St.Anthony’s 62 (10T 6C) – 28 (4T 4C) Vidyartha
ThePapare.com’s Player of the Match: Mohommed Shabeer (St.Anthony’s)
Score breakdown
St.Anthony’s Ruvan Amerasinghe (3T), Mohommed Shabeer (2T), M.Wanasinghe (2T), Dinesh Rodrigo (1T), Jithen Daulagala (1T), Mohommed Makarim (1T 6C)
Vidyartha Mohommed Shadir (1T), K Samaraweera (1T), N.Kaluarachchi (1T), D.Thissa (1T), M.Hettiarachchi (4C)
