Tankers prevail over Tigers at Maradana
View(s):Zahira College recorded their first win of the Dialog Schools Rugby League 2024, after a low-scoring, yet blockbuster game against Vidyartha College, which ended by a close 13-10 at Maradana yesterday. A game where downpours and muddy conditions took the upper hand, both teams rested on their placekickers – Basith Mahir of Zahira and Rusith Thamodya of Vidyartha.
After a gallant battle between both sides, Zahira prevailed in the end with a tally of a converted try and two penalties, while holding on to a close 10-7 lead at halftime. Vidyartha, who were unwilling to give in, as much as hosts Zahira, ended up scoring from a converted try and a penalty, but they earned losing bonus points for conceding within five points or less.
Zahira were shrewd when they decided to put over a penalty in the fourth minute through their scrumhalf Basith Mahir to gain an early 3-0 lead. They looked ravening for more points and looked to penetrate the Vidyartha defence very often until losing one of their players in the 17th minute for a yellow card offence.
Zahira forward and skipper S. Sahibo determinely runs through - Pic by Akila Jayawardena
Vidyartha took that as an advantage to score a try through a collective effort, and with Rusith Thamodya’s successful conversion they were well ahead by 7-3 by the 22nd minute. But surprisingly, despite with 14 men, Zahira responded well within four minutes with a try from Basith, who comfortably made the conversion to have his team in the lead again by 10-7, up until the halftime.
Both teams unleashed their fullest efforts to outplay each other, but only to either fall behind the tryline or being thwarted by their opponent as the game turn out to become more intense. However both teams managed to add three points each to their tallies through a penalty each – for Zahira through Basith in the 37th minute and for Vidyartha through Thamodya in the 57th minute – before the game ended in favour of the hosts.