Wesley ends league in style with easy win
Wesley College ended the Dialog Schools Rugby League in style with a comfortable 34-12 win over St. Joseph’s College in their last match played at Havelock Park yesterday’s, ending the tournament with five wins. Wesley, having taken a 17-12 lead at the breather made up their points through five tries, three conversions and a penalty against two tries and a conversion by St. Joseph’s.
During the first half both teams shared honours and exchanges and it was the Josephians who made the first scoring in the 13th minute with an unconverted try from centre Senithu Eran. But the Wesleyites, undeterred, went into the attack and four minutes later off a melee prop forward Nahil Jayah went over for an under-the-post try, giving fly half Abdul Haadhi an easy conversion to lead 7-5.
Wesley were impressive right throughout - Pic by Akila Jayawardena
They continued to put pressure and succeeded to increase the lead with winger Mohamed Fawaz going over for an unconverted try in the 24th minute. The Josphians made a quick response with a try scored by lock Isuru Chathuranga which Beeshama Jayasekera made no mistake with the conversion to make it 12-all. But Wesley surged ahead just before the short whistle with hooker Thahir Bazeer going over for an unconverted try to lead 17-12.
On resumption it was a ding dong battle but the Wesleyites much more in the territory of the Josephians and it took a good 15 minutes for them to score, with flyhalf Abdul Haadhi booting over a penalty. Three minutes later Wesley further went ahead with lock Sanruk Gamage going over for a try and Abdul Haadhi adding the extra points.
The Josephians, despite making sporadic moves, failed to take advantage as they missed scoring opportunities while the Wesleyites were just the opposite. Lock Sanruk Gamage went over for his second try and with Haadhi, making the conversion almost sealed the game for the Double Blues, who ended the tournament on a high with an easy 34-12 victory.