Maharagama Central College broke Lalith Athulathmudali hearts as they scored a 65th minute win to emerge champions of the Chairman’s Trophy 2025, after an intense clash at Havelock Park.
Conditions were perfect for Rugby at the Park, overcast but dry and minimal wind, and it was the fly half of the Mount Lavinia outfit that made full use of the favourable kicking conditions as he launched a thumping 50-22 kick deep into Maharagama territory in the 9th minute of play. The maul was formed off the ensuing lineout, and although their hooker broke off it a tad too early, their scrum half made a smart call to switch play to the blindside. The boys from Maharagama were slow to react and Adeesha Deshan went over the whitewash to open the scoring for the Mudalians. (LAC 05-00 MCC)
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It was the Lalith Athulathmudali boys that continued to dominate proceedings in the opening exchanges, and they were rewarded with a penalty in the 17th minute after carrying the ball through numerous phases, when one of the Maharagama defenders entered the ruck from the side. They were made to pay for this infringement by Buvanaka Dushantha as his exceptional day with the boot continued, as the Mount Lavinia side extended their lead. (LAC 08-00 MCC)
The boys from Maharagama grew into the game gradually, and had all the momentum going their way for the remainder of the first half. After knocking on the door for nearly 10 minutes, a clearance kick from Dushantha only made it marginally outside the 22 metre line, where it was collected well by the Maharagama full back. Their winger then carried the ball to the 5 metre line and after working a few phases, the ball reached the hands of their fly half who made a lovely offload to his Skipper, Rizon Thalawattha, who had spotted some space in the Mudalian defence, and had run an excellent line to dive over for the first score for Maharagama Central College. A relatively easy conversion was missed. (LAC 08-05 MCC).
The LAC boys dominated the rest of the half and were unable to capitalise on a few chances. The best came in the final move before the break when their outside centre miscued a pass to his winger, who was in pole position to run to the try line uncontested – a missed chance that they would be made to rue later.
Half Time: Lalith Athulathmudali College 08(1T,1P) – Maharagama Central College 05 (1T)
It was a tense second half, with neither team able to get a firm grip on the game. The Maharagama boys were the first to crumble under the pressure, when their flanker Kusumsiri was sent to the sin bin in the 45th minute, following an unnecessary tip tackle on his opposite number.
The boys from Mount Lavinia kept knocking on Maharagama’s door, trying to make full use of their numerical advantage. However, all their attempts at launching an attack ended agonisingly close to the try line as both sides continued to be sloppy with the ball in hand, and careless at the breakdown, handing each other numerous penalties.
The Maharagama Central boys were dealt another blow in the 55th minute when their blindside flanker was sent to the bin following a high tackle after breaking off the scrum too early, setting his side back a man just seconds after Kusumsiri returned to the field of play. The LAC boys made a mess of the ensuing penalty- sending it straight to the dead ball zone, handing a scrum to the Maharagama Central Boys. A wayward pass by one of the LAC replacements paved the way for what proved to be a game changing moment, when that pass was nearly chased over the tryline by the MCC chaser who was brought down illegally-via a late tackle that saw the LAC player sent to the bin.
The Maharagama Central team used this opportunity to completely shift the momentum in their favour, playing the next 10 minutes exclusively in LAC territory. The Maharagama boys dug deep and kept breathing down the neck of the defence, hovering in and around the 5 metre line before completing a spirited comeback in the 65th minute, when their hooker, Nethula Hettiarachchi, grounded the ball for their second try after all their forwards – and some members of the line – all came together to push through the stubborn defence of Lalith Athulathmudali. Kusumsiri was successful with a crucial conversion. (LAC 08-12 MCC)
The Maharagama Central defence managed to hold firm for the final five minutes to seal a narrow victory for their side as they clinched the Chairman’s Trophy by a whisker in what was the perfect curtain raiser for the final weekend of the Dialog Schools Rugby Knockouts 2025. Both teams will take a lot of confidence back with them as they kick start their preparations ahead of the Dialog Schools Rugby League that kicks off on the 6th of June.
Full Time : Maharagama Central College 12 (2T,1C) – Lalith Athulathmudali College 8 (1T,1P)
- Swisstek Player of the Match: Venusha Nimsara (Maharagama Central College)
Points Breakdown
Maharagama Central College -12
Rizon Thalawattha-1T, Nethula Hettiarachchi-1T, Kanchana Kusumsiri-1C
Lalith Athulathmudali College – 08
Adeesha Deshan-1T, Buvanaka Dushantha-1P
