Thomians down Wesley in opener
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Wesley College came close to recording a stunning win, yet hosts S. Thomas’ College held on to their nerves to record a deserving 19-13 win in their opening game of the Dialog School Rugby League 2023 played at Mt. Lavinia yesterday.
In a game that marred with unforced errors and incomplete play, the Thomians prevailed by committing less blunders than their opponents to complete a win with a tally of two unconverted tries and three penalties, thus regaining the Sir Oliver Goonatilleke Shield, the title which the two teams traditionally play for.
Despite having an outfit of talented youngsters, Wesley on the other hand, would have to reassess their strategies if they are to keep hopes alive of winning the 14-team competition. After a failed start, they trailed 7-11 at halftime and collected points through a converted try and two penalties.
Brimming high with the home advantage, the Thomians were in the lead by the 15th minute of the game after continuous errors from Wesley conceded two back-to-back penalties. Fullback Yehan Bulathsinhalage put over both to put his team in the lead 6-0 as Wesley struggled to gain momentum. Wesley’s woes were further shackled when S. Thomas’ capitalised on their mistakes, and on such an attempt the forwards formed to breach the defence and touch down by the 18th minute. Hooker Dehan Senaratne touched down as Bulathsinhalage failed with the conversion.
Though Wesley played an attacking game, they continued to commit mistakes which proved too costly. However the Double Blues somehow managed to turn tables in the 31st minute, when they shocked the Thomians after deputy skipper and No.8 Chamod Nimsara braced a try. Fullback Abdul Haadhi made the conversion as Wesley added their first points to cut down the deficit 11-7, until the halftime.
Soon after a turnover S. Thomas’ expanded their lead to 14 after Bulathsinhalage put over his third penalty of the game, but eight minutes later Wesley too closed in with a penalty put over by Haadhi as they trailed 10-14. The Thomians had their comfort zone taken off in the 54th minute when Haadhi put over his second penalty of the game to cut down the deficit to a mere one point 13-14.
And they continued to attack a panicked Thomian camp to seize from the opportunity, eyeing a win that would bolster their campaign. But mistakes proved too costly for them as the Thomians managed to attack through their forwards yet again in search of vital points. Eventually in the 62nd minute, prop Mohamed Hakeem landed off a rolling maul to help S. Thomas’ add a crucial try. Despite Bulathsinhala’s failure to convert it was sufficient to end the game in their favour as the Thomians recorded a deserving 19-13 win.