After getting into the division one after decade and half, the Boys from Zahira College Maradana have shown some tremendous team work to excel and sustain themselves in the ‘A ‘division with one game in hand against Wesley college to be played on the 24th of March at CR & FC at 4.15pm.
Reader Submission: Raees Ul-Haq
Captain Azhar Johar, vice-captain Shifaz Amath and centre Hassan Razick and the team has given everything they could to make sure the heated discussions in the dressing room are well implemented at the grounds. Having said that, the lethal pair Zaid Sinhawansa and Yuzran Lantra have made the job easy for the Team, coach and for their loving fans who waited a long time for this.
6 tries (30 Points) & 38 Points from his boot for Sinhawansa and 6 tries (30 Points) for Lantra with a hat-trick of tries against Prince of wales college last Saturday, both the players have been a treat to watch throughout.
To break the ice and to start off the season, like a great sin enters through a small door the speedster Yuzraan Lantra scored under the sticks. Zaid Sinhawansa made no mistake adding 2 points and the story started from there. Match ended in 19-13 points in favor of Zahira. Singawansa managed to score 14 Points (4 penalties and a conversion) with Lantra’s try under the post.
A moment of catharsis for Zahira,“A Division Rugby was coming back home after a decade” was against last year’s league runners-up S Thomas College Mount. More than 2,300 made their way through the gates to the grounds. The closest roads were blocked for traffic by 3 pm and parking was full by 3.30pm. But the hassle didn’t matter. Something special, something most missed, was coming home.
STC was leading 5-0 and it didn’t take a long time to level the scores. Lantra ran a good 50 meters to score a 1st phase try beating Naveen Henakankanamge. Sinhawansa missed the conversion and half time scores were 22-12 in favour of the Thomians. The visitors then scored a converted try and the scores were 29-12. Zaid managed rip the ball off from the Thomian defense and ran almost 90 meters to score a converted try. Sinhawansa 14 points and 5 points for Lantra.
After the match renown commentator Shanaka Amarasinghe quoted “The ground control was amazing and nobody ran into the ground even though there were no barricades and that was really good to see”
Trinity faced their first real test against Zahira. Two devastating wins against Wesley 64-24 and 52-7 against Science. Zahira college has not won a Rugby match against Trinity College in nearly 50 years. Yet again more than 2000 made their way to Zahira on Monday evening. Trinity scored and converted 07-00. The skillful young fly-half Sinhawansa showed he had something to offer when he has the ball in space. He put a chip and collected successfully later converting nicely 07-07. Dange scored again 12-07. Speedster Lantra cranked gears faster than Lewis Hamilton to open his account. The lads from the Kandy held the upper-hand going in for the break 24-12 to Trinity.
The rain broke through and Zahira scored twice and converted to lead 26-24. That was the first-time Trinity had been on the back-foot in the tournament. Spectators were dancing in the rain to break a record which takes Zahira Rugby to 1963 but the boys from Kandy never gave-up and managed to score two unconverted tries to end 34-26 in favor of Trinity. Sinhawansa 16 points (2 Tries 2 Conversions) Lantra 1 Try.
The 3rd home game for Zahira after two close encounters against the Thomians and Trinitians, week 4 was against Prince of Wales which ended up a walk in the park for Zahira who led 21-03 in the first half and ended with a monumental 64-12. Lantra scored his 1st hat-trick of this season and Sinhawansa scored one try and converted 7 tries.
The phenomenal pair stand -Sinhawansa 19 points (1 Try and 7 Conversions) Lantra 15 Points (3 tries)
