- The runners up of the recently concluded knockout championship, Trinity College faced off against Sri Sumangala in the 1st week of the Dialog School Rugby League 2025. A first half burst from Sumanala, set Trinity on the backfoot. But the depth in the Trinity squad showed as they scored a barrage of tries in the second half to get them the W.
Sri Sumangala College scored right off the bat. A quick tap was taken from a penalty, and a fantastic line from center Ramitha Thilakaratna saw him cut the Trinity defense open. The conversion went right through from Pasindu Samarakoon and Sri Sumangala took the early lead in the game. (Trinity 00 – 07 Sri Sumangala)
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After a few phases of play after the kickoff, Trinity won a penalty right in front of the uprights.Shan Althaf pointed at the post and knocked over Trinity’s first points of the league and cut down the deficit. (Trinity 03 – 07 Sri Sumangala)
Trinity were next to get on the score sheet, through a well set rolling maul, a facet that they have added to their game this season. Nisith Kumarasinghe was the beneficiary of the forwards good work.
Shan Althaf added the extras to get Trinity in the lead for the first time in the game. (Trinity 10 – 07 Sri Sumangala)
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It was Sri Sumangala who put in the next punch. A string of penalty infringements from Trinity gifted them to level the scores with a Penalty kick. Pasindu Samarakoon put over the kick. (Trinity 10 – 10 Sri Sumangala)
Sri Sumangala continued to play the game with a lot of flair. Their running lines from the forwards, particularly Mohomed Ifky and Rishmina Dilshan were spot on and put Trinity on the backfoot. Tharusha Dilshan went over the try line after a massive run through the fringe defence of Trinity. The conversion went astray as Sri Sumangala took back the lead. (Trinity 10 – 15 Sri Sumangala)
With Trinity trailing, they needed their senior men to take charge. Although their lineout looked wobbly, their open play kept the Sri Sumangala defence guessing. A penalty 10 meters out from the line, saw Udan Wijekoon take a quick tap and put the Trinity skipper Usman Safraz into space to score a try on the left corner. Althaf’s kick from the acute angle was not successful as it was all even-stevens once again. (Trinity 15 – 15 Sri Sumangala)
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With just 10 minutes to half time, the team that scored next would take the upper hand and the lead. A fantastic clean line break from Lock Forward Evin Jayasena, took Trinity into the opposition 22m. Quick recycle ball from the ruck and simple hands down the line put Trinity Winger Minula Yaddehige over in the corner. The extras were not added once again as Trinity took the lead going into Half Time.
HALF TIME – Trinity 20 (3T, 1C, 1P) leads Sri Sumangala 15 (2T, 1C, 1P)
It was Trinity who opened the scoring in the second half. A well executed set of phases opened the gap out wide, as Shryan Satheeshkumar darted through the Sri Sumangala defence, before drawing the final player to put Winger Ammar Manzil over for a try. Althaf added the extras to extend Trinity’s lead. (Trinity 27 – 15 Sri Sumangala)
Trinity’s rolling maul seems to be one their biggest weapons this season. Another well driven maul saw Nisith Kumarasinghe scoring off the back of it. The extras were not added. (Trinity 32 – 15 Sri Sumangala)
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Trinity continued to knock on the door. Their second half blitz continued with another score. With a penalty coming their way, Shan Althaf put a cross kick which was on point and fell right into the hands of the Winger Minula Yaddehige. A well orchestrated try from the duo. The kick from Althaf was not successful again, as his bad game off the tee continued. (Trinity 37 – 15 Sri Sumangala)
A well deserved try came the way of Trinity’s Prop Forward Manusha Silva. It was another well set maul from the forwards that got him over. The kick went astray once again. (Trinity 42 – 15 Sri Sumangala)
With full time around the corner, Trinity got one last try for themselves. Forwards and backs combined well, to put replacement back Ramindu Wanasinghe in on the corner. Sadeesha Weerawansha took over the kicking duties and duly complied.
No points on the board from Sri Sumangala in the second half was their downfall. It came down to the depth and conditioning of the squad, and Trinity were leaps and bounds ahead of their opposition, as they comfortably registered a win in the first week of the league.
FULL TIME – Trinity 49 (8T, 3C, 1P) beat Sri Sumangala 15 (2T, 1C, 1P)
Swisstek Player of the Match – Manusha Silva (Trinity)
