Anthonians won their second match of the season amidst the heavy rain that fell upon the Pallekale Rugby grounds. Although DS started the game well they failed to keep the Antonian forwards intact as the game progressed.
DS drew first blood through a penalty via Hasinsu Dinusha who had a pretty good game setting high standards. He converted every chance except the first that came his way. (St. Anthony’s 00-03 D.S.Senanayake) DS then rode their luck through their fly half Chamod Salinda who drew in the defender and side stepped him to go into the left corner with a clean running angle. (St.Anthony’s 00-08 D.S.Senanayake) Hasindu Dinusha missed a rather easy kick.
St.Anthony’s finally got their act together around the 15 minute mark as they found a way to score through their prop forward Kavinda Amarakoon. He scored slightly left of the posts after barging through a set of DS defenders. Samuel Maduwantha converted with ease judging by his standards. (St.Anthony’s 07-08 D.S.Senanayake)
The Anthonians again went over the line soon after in quick succession. This time it was the other prop forward Dinesh Rodrigo. This was a carbon copy of the first try by Amarakoon. Samuel converted again with ease. (St.Anthony’s 14-08 D.S.Senanayake) Rodrigo made another break as he barged his way through to the try line and over. Samuel missed the conversion which hit the right upright; this was a difficult kick which was taken from the left corner flag (St.Anthony’s 19-08 D.S.Senanayake)
Pramuditha Wickramaarachchi then scored a stunning try, chasing a kick put over the defence, he then kicked again before collecting and dropping over the line to score. Samuel had no problems this time. (St.Anthony’s 26-08 D.S.Senanayake)
D.S.Senanayake then received a penalty for having hands in the ruck. The 25m kick which was at a slight angle was put through without any trouble by Hasindu Dinusha. (St.Anthony’s 26-11 D.S.Senanayake)
On the brink of the half time, whistle the second row forward of Anthony’s Mohommed Shabeer was sent to the naughty boy chair for a high tackle on a DS player. The heavens opened up as it started pouring heavily at Pallekale when the referee brought the game for the half time break.
Half Time: St.Anthony’s 26 (4T 3C) – 11 (1T 2P) D.S.Senanayake
The Anthonians started the second with one man short as the rain continued to pour heavily at the grounds. DS couldn’t really capitalize on the extra man advantage as they had difficulties handling the ball and getting their forwards organized which the Anthonians had already done at this point.
Mohommed Shabeer was the first to score in the second half of the match. He had a lot of support from his forwards as he went over the line with ease supported by his ball carrier who had combined with him at the ruck. Samuel had no difficulties in converting the kick. (St.Anthony’s 33-11 D.S.Senanayake)
DS scored through their big number 6 Inura Ransika. The prop forward broke away from a poor defensive line which left a huge gap open for Ransika to run through. The line out ball which was cleanly collected by DS was formed into a rolling maul where Ransika later broke away after spotting an gap through the defense. Hasindu Dinusha who had been doing well throughout game with the boot made another easy conversion. (St.Anthony’s 33-18 D.S.Senanayake)
Then it was the captain of the Eagles himself who touched down after receiving a lovely inside pass from his mate Jehan Seelagama. The ball was sent wide to the second center Jehan who cut back in and handed Dinuk with a dive in for a try having to beat none. It was bread and butter for Samuel from under the posts. (St.Anthony’s 40-18 D.S.Senanayake)
Samuel then got a score himself as he joined the attacking line from the full back position as an additional winger. He went over for a classic winger try with Dinuk providing the assist. DS center and Captain Kavinda Perera then received a yellow card for a very late tackle on Samuel. The tackle was made after Samuel had scored. Samuel converted his own try without any mistakes cleanly bisecting the posts. (St.Anthony’s 47-18 D.S.Senanayake)
DS with one man down scored their third try of the game through Imad Sidik who was an substitute prop forward that had come on. He only had to pick and drop on the try line. However the DS forwards looked very agile and their handling skills and offloads were clearly seen as positives for them from this game. Hasindu converted the kick with a slight angle. (St.Anthony’s 47-25 D.S.Senanayake)
The Antonians had the last try of the slippery day. It was their captain Dinuk Amerasinghe again, after the restart the DS players made a mess of the ball and handed the Anthonians with ball which they drove over the line. Samuel again made it look easy from under the posts. (St.Anthony’s 54-25 D.S.Senanayake)
After this dominant performance the Anthonians are finally on the board with a win in their second outing and the first home game. St.Anthony’s will then meet Isipathana down in Londgon place while DS will have St.Peters next up in their roaster.
Full Time – St.Anthony’s 54 (8T 7C) – 25 (3T 2C 2P) D.S.Senanayake
ThePapare.com’s Player of the Match: Dinesh Rodgrigo (St.Anthony’s)
Score breakdown
St.Anthony’s – Dinuk Amerasinghe (2T), Dinesh Rodgrigo (2T), Mohommed Shabeer (1T), Pramuditha Wickramaarachchi (1T), Kavinda Amarakoon (1T), Samuel Maduwantha (1T 7C)
D.S.Senanayake – Inura Ransika (1T), Chamod Salinda (1T), Imad Siddik (1T), Hasindu Dinusha (2C 2P)
