The first semi final of the Dialog Schools Rugby Knockouts 2024 worked off today at the Sugathadasa Stadium and Wesley College registered the win to qualify for the final 4 after beating D.S Senanayake College 27-20.
D.S Senanayake College drew first blood in the fixture after Wesley College conceded some early penalties and a kick into touch which was followed up by a rolling maul was enough for them to find the whitewash. Kaveesha Jananjaya was the try scorer and the conversion went astray from Sehanda Umagiliyage (DSSC 05 – 00 WC)
But just a few minutes later, Wesley College received a penalty just outside the 22m line of the opposition and they decided to go for the 3 points which Abdul Haadhi kicked through to decrease the deficit (DSSC 05 – 03 WC)
After a little chip kick attempt went wrong from Wesley College, the combination of skipper Umagiliyage and Thatheera Perera paid dividends for the Donz next as the duo used the left side of the field to infiltrate the Double Blues defence and score the try. Umagiliyage who scored the try unfortunately couldn’t convert it (DSSC 10 – 03 WC)
But the pendulum swung quickly towards Wesley College as the DS deputy skipper Thiven Perera was shown a yellow card and from the penalty that followed the Double Blues managed to even things out as Sandul Gammanpila scored the try and Haadhi had some luck with the conversion as the ball bounced off the crossbar and through the posts (DSSC 10 – 10 WC)
With the numbers advantage by their side, Wesley College once again found themselves inside the opposition 22m territory and their halfback Abdeep Yooseph sniped through the blindside and caught the Donz defence off guard to give his team the lead in the game for the first time. The conversion however was missed by Haadhi (DSSC 10 – 15 WC)
Ashean Emmanuel of Wesley College then found the whitewash from the left corner of the field as D.S Senanayake defence struggled big time to contain the Double Blues forwards. Just before the try they managed to force a turnover but with the clearance kick not going that far they were under the pump once again from the line-out and Emmanuel went over. The conversion was unsuccessful once again but the lead was into double digits for the Double Blues (DSSC 10 – 20 WC)
Just before the half-time break Double Blues scored another try as the vulnerable Donz defensive line faltered big time with Kaizer Lye going over and Haadhi added the 2 extra points (DSSC 10 – 27 WC)
Half-Time : Wesley College 27 – 10 D.S Senanayake College
D.S Senanayake made early inroads into the Wesley territory in the second half and skipper Umagiliyage slotted through a drop goal to add 3 vital points (DSSC 13 – 27 WC)
Just before the 50th minute mark of the game, Thimath Bogahawatta scored a much needed try for D.S Senanayake as they made full use of the extra man on the field after a Wesley College player was shown a yellow card for a late charge. Umagiliyage converted the try to make it a 7 point game with 20 minutes to go (DSSC 20 – 27 WC)
Double Blues managed to hold onto the slender 7 point lead for the remainder of the game and booked their spot in the semi finals of the Dialog Schools Rugby Knockouts 2024. They will face the defending champions St. Peter’s College and Sandul Gammanpila was adjudged NDB Bank Player of the Match for his fine performance throughout the game.
Full Time : Wesley College 27 (4T 2C 1P) beat D.S Senanayake College 20 (3T 1C 1DG)
- NDB Bank Player of the Match : Sandul Gammanpila (WC)
Wesley College : Abdul Haadhi 7 Points (1 Penalty 2 Conversion), Sandul Gammanpila 5 Points (1 Try), Ashean Emmanuel 5 Points (1 Try), Kaizer Lye 5 Points (1 Try), Abdeep Yooseph 5 Points (1 Try)
D.S Senanayake College : Kaveesha Jananjaya 5 Points (1 Try), Sehanda Umagiliyage 10 (1 Try 1 Drop Goal 1 Conversion), Thimath Bogahawatta 5 Points (1 Try)
