The Trinity College Rugby Grounds in Pallekele played host to a gripping encounter in the Dialog Schools Rugby League 2026, as hosts Kingswood College locked horns with a determined Science College side. In a game that went down to the wire, Kingswood managed to edge out their rivals in a thrilling battle, securing a morale-boosting victory in the final fixture of the first round.
After a scoreless ten minutes of play, it was the hosts who drew first blood, shaking off the stillness with a brilliant try to ignite the home crowd. Science College gave a fine attacking chance to the hosts after overthrowing at a lineout inside their own half. Kingswood did well to grab the possession and attacked immediately with their electrified three-quarters. After reaching the 5-meter mark, the forwards took the job into their hands. After a powering pick-and-drive phase, Kingswood No. 08, Menusha Marasinghe, barged over the whitewash to draw the first blood of the game. (KCK 05 – 00 SC)
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The visitors were again penalised for an offside play at a ruck, and Kingswood wisely decided to go for the points to put early pressure on. Building on this early momentum, Kingswood extended their lead as Shamith Shafraz delivered an absolute stunner through a 40-metre placekick. (KCK 08 – 00 SC)
However, Science College reacted well to the early storm and found their rhythm during the latter stages of the first half. The visitors struck back with a determined surge. After receiving a penalty for killing the ruck, inside centre Munasinghe cleverly took a quick tap against the disorganised Kingswood defence. Within a flash, he brought the play back onto the 5-meter mark. After another phase, 2nd rower Nethum Senarathne crossed the try line by using an angle run and brilliant leg drive. Oshadha Fonseka nailed an easy conversion to cut the deficit. (KCK 08 – 07 SC)
As the whistle blew for the lemons, the hosts held a precarious one-point lead at Half Time.
Half Time: Kingswood College 08 (1T, 1P) – Science College 07 (1T, 1C)
The Science College side carried their late first-half momentum into the second half. They continued to press hard and were rewarded with another try shortly after the restart. As Science College received back-to-back penalties at the red zone of Kingswood, they attacked from the blind side at the right corner. However, Kingswood covered it well, and the pressure shifted for the openside. After working the ball with nice handling skills, the big prop forward Tharusha Gallage barged his way over the whitewash to plant another try under the crossbar. Oshadha Fonseka nailed the easy conversion by granting them the lead for the first time in the game. (KCK 08 – 14 SC)
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The intensity of the fixture ramped up significantly midway through the second half. The inside center from Science College was sent to the “naughty chair” with a yellow card for a grass-cutting tackle that resulted in a serious injury to the ball carrier. Despite the numerical disadvantage, the game remained fiercely contested.
Kingswood capitalised on the indiscretion soon after. The visitors were penalized for being off their feet at a ruck, presenting the hosts with a straightforward penalty opportunity. Shamith Shafraz took the opportunity with both hands and nailed the kick, successfully cutting the deficit. (KCK 11 – 14 SC)
Yet, the pendulum of the game swung back in favour of the visitors. Science College, resilient despite the yellow card, applied immense pressure on the hosts without giving any breathing space after conceding three points. Science did well to recover the ball after the restart kick and launched an immediate attack with their electrified three-quarters, which almost brought the play back to the try line. After a couple of passes, the ball was switched to Tharusha Gallage, who exploited a gap in the defence to score his second try. Oshadha Fonseka kept his fine rhythm and made no mistake with the conversion, extending their advantage once again. (KCK 11 – 21 SC)
Though the visitors were roaring during the second half, the final fifteen minutes of the game turned into a points fest for the hosts. The hosts replied with a brilliant rolling maul and brought the play near to the 5-meter mark. It was followed by another 5-meter lineout, but Science opted not to engage in the maul. But Temash Thilakarathna kept a nice body angle and went through Science forwards, who took part in the lineout to score a try from the right corner. Shafraz delivered a peach of a conversion, cutting down the deficit to a mere penalty kick. (KCK 18 – 21 SC)
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With the game momentum shifting, Kingswood impressed the home crowd by unleashing their three-quarters. The hosts received a scrum inside their own half, and through a brilliant play by the backs, the ball was sent to the vibrant full-back Shafraz, who spotted a hole in the defence and exploited it, triggering a fine break. Shafraz’s masterclass continued as he made a blistering run for nearly 70 metres by beating his chasers to plant a crucial try for the hosts, regaining the lead in dramatic fashion. Later, he put a cherry on top of his own try by nailing the conversion. (KCK 25 – 21 SC)
In the nerve-wracking final minutes, Science College threw everything they had at Kingswood. Knowing that nailing a penalty would not be enough for victory, the visitors put all the petrol in the tank in search of a match-winning try. However, the Kingswood defence stood firm. Despite making some basic mistakes under pressure, the hosts resisted the late surge.
The victory marks Kingswood College’s first win of the tournament, coming at a crucial time in the last game of the first round, ending their league campaign on a high note at the Pallekele Grounds.
Full Time: Kingswood College 25 (3T, 2C, 2P) – Science College 21 (3T, 3C)
Swisstek Perfect Player of the Match – Shamith Shafraz (Kingswood College)
Points Breakdown
Kingswood College, Kandy – 25
Menusha Marasinghe 1T, Temash Thilakarathna 1T, Shamith Shafraz 1T, 2C, 2P
Science College, Mt. Lavinia – 24
Nethum Senarathne 1T, Tharusha Gallage 2T, Oshadha Fonseka 3C
Match Referee – Hasantha Weranga
