Ananda College hosted Science College on Saturday (14th June) at their College Grounds in Rajagiriya, which was promised to be a nail-biting match-up until the dying moments of the game.
With the gloomy skies taking over Colombo, it was perfect weather for some action-packed Dialog Schools Rugby. The game saw many handling errors since its start due to the wet ball conditions. The scoreboard was disturbed at the 5th minute mark, where Ananda College was awarded a penalty. Deneth Chamuditha assumed the kicking duties and made no mistake, giving Ananda College a slender lead. (AC 03 – SC 00)
Just minutes later, Science College found itself in a similar position, having to open its account via a penalty. Nonetheless, the Science College skipper, Dilruwan Perera, couldn’t bisect the posts, leaving them at nil.
In the 10th minute, Science College centre, Hiruka Edirisinghe breaks Ananda College’s line of defence and gains his team valuable metres, which the forward pack continued to attack with momentum, and Demitha Silva finds the whitewash for his team. (AC 03 – SC 05)
After a few attacking phases produced by Ananda College, it was apparent that their strength was in the fringe attack, and Science College was not up to the task. Capitalising on the mismatch, the Ananda forwards kept the momentum by producing phase after phase and penetrated the Science College defence for the first time in the game using the hooker Janithu Perera. Deneth Chamuditha added extras. (AC 10 – SC 05)
After an intense 10-minute battle back and forth, Science College was caught lacking, giving Ananda College another opportunity to extend their lead. Opting for a lineout rather than a 3-point goal kick, Ananda College was able to pull off a perfect driving maul and executing a tect book style pick-and-go attack. Lock Vishwa Erandika touches down for Ananda College. Chamuditha makes no mistake and extends the lead. (AC 17 – SC 05)
Right before Lemons Science College was able to reduce the lead by the No.08, Chemitha Hettiararachchi barging through the Ananda defence after a well fought passage of play by his fellow forwards. Skipper Dilruwan Perera adds the extras (AC 17 – SC 12)
Half-Time: AC 17 (2T 2C 1P) – 12 (2T 1C) SC
As the second half began, with momentum on their side, Science College tested the Ananda defence, giving them no time to breathe. After a continuous 3-minute attack through, the big prop of Science College, Tharusha Gallage was able to equalize the scoreboard. Perera adds the extras. (AC 17 – SC 19)
Indiscipline in the ruck areas by Science College gave Ananda College another opportunity to regain its lead. Deneth Chamuditha slots the “under the posts” kick quite easily giving his team the lead by a single point. (AC 20 – SC 19)
Just moments after Science bounces back. A quick tap from the nippy scrum half, Methuka Edirisinghe and short pass to his fellow captain, Dilruwan Perera dashes through the unorganized defence of Ananda College and scores for his team and makes no mistake in adding the extras too. (AC 20 – SC 26)
Poor discipline from both sides, Science Hooker, Hansaka Liyanararachchi and Ananda Second Row, Ovindu Vibuja was directed to the sin bin with a yellow card each.
In the dying minutes of the game, Inside Centre, Rehan Attanayake manages to break the Science College defence and keep the hopes alive for his team and supporters. Chamidutha failed to add the extras, leaving Ananda with a deficit of 1 point and 7 minutes in the match clock. (AC 25 – SC 26)
It was a brutal physical battle between the teams, showcasing pure grit and passion to bring glory to their respective Alma Mater. 68th minute Ananda College fly half kicking a thumping kick diagonally with his Wing Three Quarter giving an equally amazing kick chase, and managing to tackle the opposing player, winning the ball back by achieving a knock-on just 5 meters out of the whitewash. With a monstrous No. 8 break in the 69th minute and a quick ruck attack by the forwards Ananda College was able to regain the lead in the final few seconds of the match. Chamuditha adds the extras to give his team a well-fought win. (AC 32 – SC 26)
Ananda College managed to win a game in the Dialog Schools Rugby League Division A after 17 long years!
Full Time: Ananda College 32 (4T 3C 2P) – 26 (4T 3C) Science College
SWISSTEK PERFECT PLAYER OF THE MATCH: Deneth Chamuditha (AC)
Points Breakdown
Ananda College: 4 tries, 3 conversions, 2 penalties
Science College: 4 tries, 3 conversions
 at their College Grounds in Rajagiriya, which was promised to be a nail-biting match-up until the dying moments of the game.){kind=link}