Sri Sumangala College, Kandy, managed to secure their second win in the Dialog Schools Rugby League 2026, beating newly promoted Lumbini College 33 – 10 at Police Park.
The match started off with a bit of drizzle as both teams struggled to keep possession of the ball, but early opportunities came the way of the visitors as Skipper Shashika Bandara managed to sneak over the whitewash to draw first blood.
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After conceding the try, Lumbini College managed to hang around in the opposition territory but were unable to capitalise on it, as their handling and support play just didn’t help their cause. Seventeen minutes went by until finally, the Sri Sumangala number 8 Tharusha Dilshan managed to barge through the Lumbini fringes to touch down. This was converted by Pasindu Samarakoon.
The errors continued as both teams kept exchanging possession of the ball and squandering opportunities until Lumbini College finally managed to open their scoring through a penalty kick on the stroke of Half Time, courtesy of Sachintha Induwara.
Half Time: Sri Sumangala College Kandy 14 (2T, 2C) – 03 Lumbini College (1P)
The second half was off to a slow start as errors continued, and both teams just didn’t manage to convert opportunities. The visitors, nonetheless, managed to get a score in the 46th minute through their big prop forward, Resandu Sehas, yet again establishing physical dominance against the hosts. Samarakoon’s consistency off the tee continued as he slotted through the conversion.
A glimpse of hope sparked for Lumbini College as Lakshan Perera linked up with R. K. Yohan, who made a dashing run down the left-hand side before being cynically brought down five metres short. The Referee rightfully awarded a penalty try to leave the game in the balance (LC 10 – 21 SSCK).
The game meandered along for the next ten minutes, with errors creeping back into both teams as they coughed up more scoring opportunities. After building some pressure with their forwards, Maleesha Karunathilake ran a lovely angle to pierce the defense and put the game out of Lumbini’s reach. Samarakoon converted (LC 10 – 28 SSCK).
After more sustained forward pressure, Player of the Match Tharusha Dilshan put the icing on the cake for the visitors, barging his way through to complete his brace with the last move of the game. This gave a mighty impressive Sri Sumangala side their second bonus point win on the trot and away from home, at that.
Full Time: Sri Sumangala College Kandy 33 (5T, 4C) – 10 Lumbini College (1P, Penalty Try)
Swisstek Player of the Match: Tharusha Dilshan (SSCK)
Score Breakdown
Sri Sumangala College
Tharusha Dilshan – 2T, Pasindu Samarakoon – 4C, Shashika Bandara – 1T, Resandu Sahas – 1T, Maleesha Karunathilake – 1T
Lumbini College
Sachintha Induwara- 1P, Penalty Try
