Newcomers Mahanama College sealed their first victory of the Dialog Schools Rugby League 2025, outplaying Dharmaraja College in a scrappy affair that ended 15-05 at the Air Force Grounds in Ratmalana.
After impressing one and all in last week’s clash, Mahanama College were desperate to get off the mark in the top flight, as they locked horns with a Dharmaraja College side that needed to get their season up and running, following successive heavy defeats.
Conditions were challenging at Ratmalana, and kick off was delayed due to heavy rain. Even as the game began, there was a persistent drizzle coupled with strong winds that put both sets of players to the test across the 70 minutes.
It was the visitors that dominated the early exchanges, and they opened the scoring in the 4th minute when No.08 Matheesha Sandew made an intelligent break off the back of the first scrum of the game to outnumber Mahanama on their blindside. He worked the ball to winger Dumindu Rajapaksha who went over the whitewash and handed the visitors an early advantage. (MC 00-05 DC)
Mahanama College gradually grew into the game after the first 10 minutes, and chose to persist with their set plays despite the conditions favouring the forwards, and the wet ball making handling the ball quite the challenge.
After opting for the quick tap and the scrum off of numerous penalties, and hovering around the Rajan red zone for nearly 25 minutes, the hosts finally decided to trust their forwards and go for touch after winning a penalty for a hand in the ruck. They then perfectly executed the rolling maul to open their account in the 29th minute when hooker Isuru Chamuditha dived over for his first try. (MC 05-05 DC)
The hosts continued to put pressure on the Hill Country outfit as the remainder of the half was played almost exclusively in the Dharmaraja half. However, the Kandyan outfit stood firm and ensured both sides were level at the break.
Half Time: Mahanama College 05 (1T) – Dharmaraja College 05 (1T)
Mahanama picked up where they left off in the second half as went for touch off another penalty and once again formed the rolling maul off the 5 metre line out in the 37th minute when Chamuditha touched down for a carbon copy of his earlier try to hand Mahanama College the lead for the first time in the game. (MC 10-05)
They continued to breathe down the neck of the Rajans defence, and pinned the visitors inside their red zone. And despite their many attempts to find an exit, were unable to wrestle their way back into the game.
The hosts once again attempted to form the rolling maul in the 46th minute, but the Rajans succeeded in bringing it down. However, after working through a few more phases, they once again chose to go to their backline, where skipper Navith Kannangara sold a lovely dummy before touching down as Mahanama College were finally rewarded for trusting their backs. (MC 15-05 DC)
Dharmaraja College were the architects of their own failure as they continued to squander the chances that came their way and capitalize on the mistakes made by their opponents. As Mahanama managed to wrestle back momentum and continue their dominance every time the visitors thought they had a sniff.
The final straw came in the dying moments of the game when the visitors finally managed to gather some momentum and maintain territory and possession, only to be held up on the try line by the hosts and denied a losing bonus point on what was a frustrating day at the office for the Kandyan side.
Mahanama College on the other hand will take a lot of confidence from this game as they managed to hold the fort and physically dominate in challenging conditions while also sealing their maiden victory in the top division of Srilankan schools rugby.
Mahanama hooker Isuru Chamuditha was adjudged Swisstek Perfect Player of the Match for his two tries, his menacing presence in broken plays and his admirable work rate.
Mahanama College will look to ride this wave of momentum as they take on a high flying Thomian outfit at police park next week while the Rajans will be put to the test once again as they face knockout champions Isipathana College up in Nittawela.
Full Time: Mahanama College 15 (3T) – Dharmaraja College 05 (1T)
- Swisstek Perfect Player of the Match – Isuru Chamuditha (MC)
Points Breakdown
Mahanama College – 15
Isuru Chamuditha- 2T, Navith Kannangara- 1T
Dharmaraja College – 05
Dumindu Rajapaksha- 1T
