It was a battle for bragging rights to see who were on top around Maradana, with The Joes facing off close neighbors Ananda at the Ananda College Grounds in Rajagiriya. With the final whistle blown, the Joes put up 41 – 19 and came away with a victory to start their Dialog Schools Rugby League 2026 campaign with a win, whilst putting an end to their three-year long league opener curse.
Under good weather on a perfect Friday afternoon, Bryan Fernando kicked off deep to get proceedings underway at Rajagiriya. The Joes forwards had done their homework and started their day with no minute wasted, few phases later Dion Peters touched down for the first try of the game. The Joes struck the first punch of the game.
(SJC 05 – 00 AC)
Ananda were not ready to let it that slide that easy, and it took only two minutes for them to create a maul from Rehan Attanayeka’s touch and drive ten meters with Thanthirige at the back of the maul to score their first try of the game and strike back strong at the visitors from the home side. Conversion was unsuccessful, meaning the scores were tied all. (SJC 05 – 05 SC)
A not rolling away penalty from the Maroon shirts gave the Joes an easy lineout just five meters from the white line, a phase from the rolling maul Skipper Inosh Silva later crossed under the post easily without any resultant force, creating an easy two pointer for Fernando.
(SJC 12 – 05 AC)
Three minutes later, some good build up phase play by the Blue lads from Maradana sunk the Maroon lads from Maradana, with the backs joining in on the party this time, with Shanelka Cooray touching down in the far left side corner and extending their lead. (SJC 17 – 05 AC)
A series of penalties were given away for the Josephians. Capitalising on that with three minutes left for Half Time, Ananda struck from a rolling maul, with Ovindhu Vibhuja adding his name to the list of try scorers. Chamuditha was on point with his conversion this time, and it was Half Time. (SJC 17 – 12 AC)
Half Time: St. Joseph’s College 17 (3T, 1C) – Ananda College 12 (2T, 1C)
As the Rugby cultural saying goes, the result of the first match of the league sets the tone for the rest – both teams needed the big W, and both teams stepped on to the field to showcase strong second half performance after a well-deserved rest. Three minutes into the first half, a lineout and then a maul formed meant Dion Fernando, the inside center, crossed over, extending the Joes’ lead. (SJC 24 – 12 AC)
A lineout five meters away from the whitewash saw the Ananda Maroons Brigade scoring again from a fast and dominantly driven rolling maul, with Januga Peiris being the try scorer, and cutting the deficit to five point with thirty minutes to play. (SJC 24 – 19 AC)
The Maradana Blue jerseys had possession in their own half, with Bryan Fernando taking the risk and passing the ball to his fellow back, also gaining forty-five meters, a penalty and a yellow card as well towards Ananda. A few minutes later, Skipper Inosh Silva went over for his second try. (SJC 31 – 19 AC)
Ananda were not ready to give up – they knocked and knocked hard on the door, but the defense from the Joes was too good, just like their first half up to the mark. They turned possession over, and with three minutes left in the game, Bryan Fernando converted a penalty to extend the Josephians’ lead. (SJC 34 – 19 AC)
Ananda had possession again, but gifted away as the frustration and disappointment of the lads were visibly starting to kick in. The Josephians were quick to spot that, and with seventy minutes up, the Saints were not ready to stop as Sandaru Wanshita scored the final try of the game, while Candappa converted successfully, and with that, sealed the deal for the travelling Josephians, handing Ananda a big defeat in their first game at their own backyard. This also means that the Josephians break their league campaign opener curse as they win one after three long years, as they last won their opening encounter back in 2022 against Kingswood.
(SJC 41 – 19 AC)
Full Time: St. Joseph’s College 41 (6T, 4C, 1P) – Ananda College 19 (3T, 2C)
- Swisstek Perfect Player of the Match: Bryan Fernando (SJC)
Points Breakdown
St. Joseph’s College 41
Inosh Silva 2T, Dion Fernando 1T, Shanelka Cooray 1T, Dion Peters 1T, Sandaru Wanshitha 1T, Bryan Fernando 3C 1P, Adriano Candappa 1C
Ananda College 19
Ovindhu Vibhuja 1T, Thanthirige 1T, Januga Peiris 1T, Deneth Chamuditha 2C.
