Rain started hammering moments before kickoff at Havelock’s park in a match that was filled with neck-and-neck Rugby of the highest quality. Mahanama College found momentum in the latter stages of the first half and carried on to the second half to stay infront of the game nearly till the final whistle. But DS Senanayake were able to pull their final trick out of the magic hat to secure victory in the final match of the Dialog School’s Rugby League 2026.
Thatheera Perera kicked things off for the hosts one final time this season under heavy rain as the hosts looked to put pressure early on Mahanama college but it was a stalement very early on as both teams made a few cardinal errors. It took long for either of the two teams to score despite being in constant contest in the opposition 22. It was the no. 13 Yasanda Ravindra that drew first blood for DS Senanayake College as he managed to touch down, Chamith Samarasinghe who was playing no. 15 instead of no. 10 for the home team, this game and the quarterback did his role with the boot to convert their opening try of the match. ( DS 07 – 00 MC).
Then came a strong reply from Mahanama college putting immense of pressure on the home team and contesting the DS 22 on multiple occasions through rolling mauls and deep lineouts. But the Number 8 for Mahanama College did the job for the visitors who would’ve hoped for an upset against their brother school, with M. W Vishal managing to hop over the whitewash and score their first try. Vihanga Seneth made no mistake with the boot as he converted to make it even stevens at Havelocks park with nothing separating the two teams even after the halfway point of the first half. ( DS 07 – 07 MC)
That moment followed some neck-and-neck rugby from both teams as they had only themselves to blame following some missed scoring oppurtunities, especially Mahanama College. But on the back of some strong touch-finders from the boot of Thatheera Perera, DS were able to get into strong positions with their lineouts. Mahanama had come with their homework done as they defended superbly against the Donz rolling maul which is their strongest suite. After a showcasing of superb maul defense from Mahanama, Thimath Bogahawatte finally managed to push through from the back of the maul, over the line and put his team back in the lead. With a failed conversion attempt, it was a 5 point game between these two schools.( DS 12 – 07 MC)
We weren’t too far away from lemons at Havelocks park with Mahanama finding great momentum to build on. They were playing some ferocious rugby and took control over proceedings in the final moments of the first half. With constant drills of breathtaking rugby and multiple golden oppurtunities to score, it was the no. 11 jersey Nemsara that ran through the defense of DS Senanayake College, by side stepping and creating room in-front to score a marvellous try for the visitors. He ran through several DS defenders and still had to run through some space, which made that try very special. Seneth couldn’t convert for Mahanama college as the referee blew the whistle to call halftime after a last minute try. ( DS 12 – 12 MC)
HT – DS Senanayake College 12 (2T) – Mahanama College 12 (2T)
The second half began with all the momentum with Mahanama College as they seemed to have a spring in their steps. They were in total control, especially in terms of ball possession and their fast play that rattled DS early on. With nothing separating the two teams after 40 minutes and Mahanama making inroads into the DS half and putting pressure firmly on them, they set out for a rolling maul that was met with good maul defense themselves by the hosts. But what came next was something nobody saw nor expected. Malinka Danuja, donning the no. 10 jersey from Mahanama picked the ball up from the back of the maul, after seeing some open space and made a sprint over the whitewash. It was great game awareness from him as his smart play put his team in the drivers seat and into the lead for the first time in the match. Vihanga Seneth was able to convert this time around for the visitors to grow their lead furthermore ( DS 12 – 19 MC)
With a half hour still to go things had to happen for DS to come back into the game. Liyara Wickramasinghe proved to be the man for DS as he was moving the game at a fast pace for them. But for the next 20 minutes, it was pure dominance from Mahanama college as they made successive attempts at the whitewash, putting immense pressure on the opposition defense. DS were hardly able to make any gameplay and attack, as they were made to defend with their bodies on the line to save a game. Nonetheless DS prevented any further letdowns as they held Mahanama up from scoring despite near-perfect robust strings of play. With play entering the last 10 minutes and DS requiring some magic, they were able to bring play into Mahanama’s half. Mohammed Ihsan who had just come in from the bench found space to run through the opposition defense as Mahanama were doing impressive work with their defense and frustrating the opposition. They did not allow DS over the whitewash despite multiple occasions that had loomed into their hands. Ihsan finally managed to creep through the strong Mahanama defense and score a crucial try. Pin-drop silence hit Havelocks park as Chamith Samarasinghe was set to convert and make it even-stevens. He ended up converting and the crowd was by and large behind DS. ( DS 19 – 19 MC).
Into the final moments, play went as both teams were finding one final scoring opportunity to take a cracking game. Things ebbed and flowed for mere moments before the home team with the support of a loud DS crowd managed to take play into the other half. They tried with all their might with the likes of Praveen Lakmal and Thimath Bogahawatte pushing deep. Not to mention, if it wasn’t for Liyara Wickramasinghe and his fast play, things would have been much worse for the home team.But an infringement did the work for them in the opposition 22 as they opted to take a match winning penalty to seal the deal in a proper rugby match. Chamith Samarasinghe said “ what pressure?” as he kicked the ball right through the middle of the posts to set a roaring DS crowd ablaze. ( DS 22 – 19 MC)
That proved to be a fitting end to one of the best rugby matches of the season and to the season as a whole as DS Senanayake emerged victorious in a remarkable come-from-behind victory to break Mahanama hearts at Havelocks park and end their season on a winning note. Mahanama were infront for majority of the game due to some impressive rugby but proved to be a bit short as the hosts replied strongly to end the week 9 of the Dialog School’s Rugby League 2026.
Fulltime – DS Senanayake College 22 ( 3T, 2C, 1P) – Mahanama College ( 3T, 2C)
- Swisstek Perfect Player of the Match – Liyara Wickramasinghe ( DS Senanayake College)
Points breakdown
DS Senanayake College – 22
Thimath Bogahawatte ( 1T ), Mohommed Ihsan (1T), Yasanda Ravindra (1T), Chamith Samarasinghe (2C, 1P)
Mahanama college – 19
M. W Vishal( 1T),M Nemsara (1T), Malinka Danuja (1T), Vihanga Seneth ( 2C)
- Match Referee – Thilina Rathnayake
