Kingswood trounce Wesley
Kingswood was tougher than expected - Pic by Ranjith Perera
Kingswood College pressed forward, and charged through the Wesley defence to bag in a comfortable 31-13 win, at the Race Course Grounds, yesterday.
The team from Kandy scored four tries (all four converted) and one penalty, while Wesley had to settle for just one converted try and two penalties.
Contrary to what the scoreboard shows, Wesley started the game strong maintaining possession, and working the ball forward. It was the second half that undid everything for the home side. Playing with the wind to their advantage, Murshid Zubair booted in two penalties in the first fifteen minutes to put Wesley on top.
Kingswood did not lag behind for long, responding with a penalty off Hirusha Sampath’s boot. However, Wesley were the team attacking.
As Wesley kept pushing forward, it seemed only a matter of time before they would score a try. This came off a lineout on the far end of the ground as Sahan Hansaja crept through the King’s defence to score. Murshid Zubair converted this. The try-scorer Hansaja was shown a yellow card soon after.
Towards the end of the first half, Kingswood found their way back into the game. They received a penalty and opted for a scrum. Hefty Tharindu Waligampola receiving a ball from the scrum pushed his way through the Wesley defence to score the King’s first try.
Kingswood’s Hirusha Sampath missed a penalty and the chance to equalise seconds before the break. Half-time scores; Wesley 13- 10 Kingswood.
After the restart, the Kandyan side simply seized the game entire. They had a chance to score just five minutes into play, but Janitha Rajanayake knocked on at the try line. However, this wasn’t to hurt them, as they went on to score three tries.
The first came off D. Weerasinghe from the ruck, giving the visiting team the lead for the first time in the game. Hirusha Sampath converted this. Scores; Kingswood 17- 13 Wesley.
The King’s went on dominating possession and the next try came only a few moments later off S. Senavirathne, which Hirusha Sampath converted once more.
Wesley had a few chances after that, but a strong King’s defence held them back.
S. Senavirathna scored his second try (Kingswood’s fourth). This was a shocker for Wesley. A careless loose pass saw Senavirathna steal it and dash down an open field to score under the posts. Sampath converted this once more.
Kingswood’s T. Jaleel received a yellow card. Wesley kept working the ball in the last moments but to no avail as the final whistle blew. They went scoreless in the second half.
The win meant the King’s won their 21st L.E Blaze trophy. Wesley have won it thrice.