• Edge out Wesley 23-21 to seal the deal

Trinity College, Kandy deservedly created history as they annexed the Dialog Schools Rugby League title after 38 years, with a hard-fought 23-21 victory over Wesley College, Colombo in an arm-wrestle at the Pallekele Stadium last afternoon (2).

The Lions last roared their way to league success way back in 1987 under former No. 8 Tyrrell Rajapakse and the class of 2025 led by inside centre Usman Safraz followed in their footsteps by sealing the trophy with a game to spare.

Trinity took time to settle down after trailing the visitors 7-5 at half-time, but regrouped thanks to placekicker Shan Althaf finding his radar to pip the double blues and lift the silverware after almost four decades.

Wesley, though taking the lead in the first half, struggled to sustain the momentum after the restart as Trinity kept the scoreboard ticking. They only managed to dump a penalty try and a converted try within the last nine minutes of the game to claim a losing bonus point.

The winners collected their points from three tries, with one of them being converted, apart from kicking a penalty goal and a drop goal, while the losers responded with three converted tries in a closely fought-out affair.

Trinity could have sealed the contest in the first-half itself but for Althaf’s fluffing of a 40-metre penalty kick in the 18th minute and then hitting the post with the conversion of his Captain’s try eight minutes later.

However, to their credit, Wesley fought to the bitter end, with Trinity being reduced to 14 men in the 61st minute, after outside centre Sadeesha Weerawansa was binned for an illegal high shot on Wesley flanker Naham Hemachandra in the process of going over.

Referee Raveen Alexander awarded a penalty try to the double blues and the latter also managed to touch down on the stroke of full-time through lock Hamdan Safraz, which was converted. 

But it only proved to be a case of too little and too late for the Campbell Park lads as Trinity held on to savour their league triumph, with the clash against St. Peter’s at the same venue next week being only of academic interest.

Wesley drew first blood in the 22nd minute when, off an incisive break inside centre Danush Dassanayake crossed over following a tapped penalty, and with full back Abdul Haadhi’s conversion took the lead 7-0.

Trinity, undeterred, hit back four minutes later when Captain Usman Safraz, also off a tapped penalty, leapt over the Wesley left-wing to dot down, but with the fluffed conversion trailed the visitors 7-5.

A minute into the second half, lock Akash Fernando crossed for the Lions after a series of pick and goes, and with the conversion being successful, led for the first time 12-7.

Then in the 45th minute, hard-working No. 8 Shrayan Satheeshkumar powered his way to score through brute strength, but with the missed conversion attempt led 17-7.

Althaf then nailed a penalty and a drop goal (45 m) within the space of four minutes to put the issue beyond doubt at 23-7 for the hosts.

But it only helped to spring Wesley into life as they scored two converted tries in the final 10-minute period, but could not prevent Trinity from laying their mitts on the elusive Holy Grail of local schools rugby.

Royal edge out STC 30-29

Royal College edged out S. Thomas’ 30-29 in their Dialog Schools Rugby League match in Mount Lavinia yesterday.

SPC beat Pathana 14-7

St. Peter’s College beat Isipathana 14-7 in their Dialog Schools Rugby League match in Bambalapitya yesterday. 

(JK)