In an otherwise scrappy game which could have gone either way, the key difference came down to the fact that during the last ten minutes of the game, Wesley College looked far more comfortable than Ananda College both in terms of stamina and game awareness.
Hot off the heels of an away win at Ratmalana against Prince of Wales’ College, Ananda College looked to secure a win against tougher opposition in the form of Wesley College at their home turf at Rajagiriya. Wesley College, coming into the game, had the form advantage, winning both of their previous fixtures convincingly.
Kaizer Lye, the skipper for the Double Blues, kicked things off, but a well set phase in the third minute ensured that it was one of the Anandian forwards that ended up drawing first blood in the game with five points, with Ananda talisman Deneth Chamuditha faring well with the conversion.
(7-0)
Wesley College would reply in kind with a back-line beaut, with their winger Prarthana Rodrigo easing his way down the wing to come down under the sticks, with a successful conversion from Mohamed Fawaz ensuring that affairs were even within the first six minutes of the game (7-7)
Just a couple of minutes later, in a game filled with contenders for a moment of the match award, Weslyite skipper Lye intercepted a complacent and frankly overcooked pass from Anandian flyhalf Attanayake for a try that was easily the easiest on the eyes all game. Fawaz would once again come in with the boot for a successful conversion. (7-14)
Ananda would frequently be tested in their redline by the Double Blues forwards as well as a welldrilled backline that frequently set up brilliant set pieces, but an excellent defense proved handy as Ananda denied Wesley another easy try.
The first half would continue to be an eventful one, as Wesleyite winger Prarthana Rodrigo showcased incredible footwork and flair to goose step three defenders and go down for what could have been the try of the match, but it was not to be, as it was called offside, much to the relief of what at that point was a spooked Anandian defense.
It was Ananda’s turn to terrorize defenses, as excellent pod play and ball carries would put the Wesleyite line to an extreme test. Nevertheless, it was Ananda’s man of the hour, fullback Deneth Chamuditha that provided the breakthrough with an audacious fifty meter penalty kick to cut down the deficit to just four points. (10-14)
Rahman, the big prop forward for Wesley College would in turn, return the favor, crashing into the whitewash with a well picked run at the gap for five points, with Fawaz converting successfully seconds before going into lemons. (10-21)
Half Time – AC 10 – WC 21
Ananda College would set their intent to drag themselves back into the game with a beautiful bit of synergy between their center pair, with Attanayake and Januga Peiris juggling the ball between them for Peiris to collect a brilliant offload to go for five points for Ananda College. This too, was in contention for the try of the match. (15-21)
Despite not having the best day converting, Chamuditha once more proved his chops with a second attempt at three points from forty five meters away, cementing his place as one of the best fullbacks in the league. (18-21)
Keshara Rahul, the hooker would return to terrorize the Anandian defense with a brace, with his first five points coming off a successful maul. (18-26)
Rahul would once again return barely five minutes later for his second try of the game, showcasing the involvement that the visiting forwards had on the game. (18-31)
During the last phase of the game, Ananda College looked scrappier by the minute, but were equally matched by Wesley College who gave away penalty infringements by bulk, sadly not capitalized as well as the home side would have liked.
Nevertheless, it was Yoshitha Shalom for the Double Blues who finished the job as the referee blew the whistle at full-time at Rajagiriya. (18-36)
Full Time – AC 18 – WC 36
Swisstek Perfect Player of the Match – Keshara Rahul (WC)
Points Breakdown
Ananda College – 2T, 1C, 2P
Wesley College – 6T, 3C
