St. Peter’s College had a dominant 24–03 victory over St. Anthony’s College in their third-week fixture of the Dialog Schools Rugby League 2025, played at the Nittawela Rugby Fortress. St. Anthony’s came in search of their maiden victory of the season, while Wesley was determined to continue their unbeaten run. Finally, the visitors had the last laugh by disappointing the home crowd, who had gathered in numbers despite the rainy weather.
The game started awkwardly for the Eagles as referee Jeewaka Fonseka spotted that an Antonian player had touched the kickoff ball before it crossed the ten-meter line. After an initial scrummage, there was an evenly matched contest between the two sides, but due to unforced errors and the wet ground conditions, there wasn’t any scoring until the 14th minute.
The first try came after the Wesleyites drove a maul near the right corner flag, in front of the Kandy SC clubhouse. However, the ball went out of play while the referee was playing advantage for an offside in the maul. Wesley received a penalty on the 5-meter line, and the Antonians were slow to react as center Mohommad Fawaz took a quick tap and went over the try line.
(WC 05–00 SAC)
The Antonians then played out of their skin to counterattack, but Wesley’s strong defense held firm. St. Anthony’s managed to earn a penalty inside their own half, and their trusted kicker, Deshan Liyanage, delivered an excellent kick to touch, gaining nearly 60 meters of territory. After a series of errors from both sides, a penalty went in favor of St. Anthony’s, and Kalpa Lakmina managed to bisect the goalposts, cutting the deficit to just two points.
(WC 05–03 SAC)
Wasting no time, Deshan Liyanage once again nailed a marvelous 50–22 kick, earning his team a lineout throw just 5 meters away from their try line. The Eagles launched a fierce attack on the Double Blues, riding the momentum and driving over the try line—only for it to be adjudged a hold-up in the in-goal area.
>>Meet the captains who are battling for a single crown
Despite threatening Wesley throughout the first half, the Antonians were poor at converting their chances into points. In contrast, Wesley capitalized on their opportunities, scoring their second try in the dying minutes of the first half. The powerful Double Blues hooker, Keshara Rahul, barged his way over the try line following a well-executed maul. This time, fullback Abdul Haadhi made no mistake with the conversion.
(WC 12–03 SAC)
Half Time: Wesley College 12 (2T, 1C) – St. Anthony’s College 03 (1P)
At the start of the second half, Wesley had a comfortable lead, but the Eagles stayed within striking distance. Wesley winger Prarthana Rodrego scored the third try near the left corner flag after an exceptional passage of play by the forwards. Abdul Haadhi nailed the conversion from a difficult angle, adding the extras.
(WC 19–03 SAC)
A few minutes later, the Antonians were awarded a penalty for an offside offense, but Kalpa Lakmina missed what should have been a regulation kick, hindering their hopes of a comeback.
In the 50th minute, Wesley set up a strong driving maul after a five-meter lineout. Captain Sandul Gammanpila went over the line for the bonus-point try, although the conversion went astray.
Shortly after, Keshara Rahul was yellow-carded for lifting the ball carrier and bringing him down in a dangerous manner while tackling. The Antonians had a promising passage of play, inching toward their first try. Their scrum-half executed a show-and-go, breaking through the defense, but he was caught, and Nelith Hapugala swiftly ripped the ball from the carrier, crushing the Eagles’ hopes yet again.
The Antonians had numerous opportunities to score, showcasing brilliant set pieces and well-executed pick-and-go phases. However, their brilliance faded due to Wesley’s tight defense, handling errors, and avoidable penalties. St. Anthony’s can only blame themselves for wasting time and failing to score during the period when Wesley was down to 14 men.
In the final stages, the match saw a fierce, shoulder-to-shoulder battle, with Wesley gaining the upper hand through some magnificent plays. Yet, due to repeated errors—mostly because of the wet ball and poor ground conditions—the scoreboard remained unchanged.
In the final minute, St. Anthony’s launched one last attempt for a consolation try with a driving maul near the Kandy SC clubhouse. But Wesley once again managed to legally rip the ball, putting the final nail in the coffin. Wesley College ultimately thumped St. Anthony’s College by 24–03, securing a bonus-point win.
This defeat raises questions about the impact of newly appointed coach Saliya Kumara, as the Eagles continue to struggle this season. However, despite the loss, the boys from the hill capital showed great character and marked improvement. They challenged Wesley on numerous occasions during the match. With fine-tuning, reduced errors, and improved finishing, Saliya Kumara’s team could transform into a unit capable of defeating any opponent.
Full Time: Wesley College 24 (4T, 2C) – St. Anthony’s College 03 (1P)
Swisstek Perfect Player of the Match: Abdul Hardhi (Wesley College)
Points Breakdown
Wesley College 24
Keshara Rahul 1T, Mohommad Fawaz 1T, Prarthana Rodrigo 1T, Sandul Gammanpila 1T, Abdul Hardhi 2C.
St. Anthony’s College 03
Kalpa Lakmina 1P
