The high-stakes second-round encounters of the Dialog Schools’ Rugby League 2025 were started on this Saturday, and without any argument, the encounter that had stolen the spotlight unfolded at the S. Thomas’ College grounds at Mt. Lavinia. The two unbeaten sides locked their horns, and after having a thrilling game, the Trinity Lions stamped their class and came up with a morale-boosting victory by keeping their unbeaten run.
Trinity Lions came to the game full of confidence after having five dominating victories in a row, especially after demolishing the strong Royal and Vidyartha outfits. On the contrary, S. Thomas’ had an early shock at the opener but recovered well against Kingswood to be victorious in their one-point thriller win. Since then, all the things happened in favour of Thomians, and their thumping win against Isipathana was definitely a morale booster and was a testament to their suitability to clinch the league title.
- Meet the captains who are battling for a single crown
- Meet the captains who are battling for a single crown
- Mckyle-Mayanka combination stars as the dominant Thomians outclass Zahira.
In the initial minutes of the game, Trinitians launched an attack near the try line with a rolling maul, and their co-vice captain Nisith Kumarasinghe went over the line to score the first try of the match. Trinity centre and Sri Lankan youth player who crossed in from Dharmaraja Sadeesha Weerawansha made no mistake with the difficult conversion attempt. (TCK 07 – 00 STC)
Without wasting any time, the hosts made a bold reply by astonishing the Trinity defence. Avishka Perera made a brilliant breakthrough through the defence, and Seneshka Liyanagunawardana made a dive to score their first. But the conversion went astray. (TCK 07 – 05 STC)
After an eventful play, Trinity’s three quarters made excellent work with the line, and a magnificent back-of-the-hand pass sealed their second try as Hamza Abdeen went over the whitewash. Trinity got their conversion right again to add the extras. (TCK 14 – 05 STC)
The Trinity brigade never looked back, and the lions looked like they were in hunger for more tries. In this phase Thomians had to do the defensive work for most of the time as the visitors enjoyed much ball possession with them. After some good passage of play, Trinity forward Nisith Kumarasinghe went for a try after a superb execution of a rolling maul which started on the 22-metre line. (TCK 19 – 05 STC)
Later, Trinity lions came into the Thomians territory and kept answering numerous questions on Thomian defence. After some good work by the forwards again, their three quarters displayed their class with fine passes, followed by good supporting play. Then the finish came through their outside centre, Shan Althaf, who scored the bonus point try just at 20 minutes on the clock. (TCK 24 – 05 STC)
Five minutes later, Trinity launched another fierce attack, and the Thomian defence looked like they weren’t prepared for such pressure. After a superb passage of play, Shan Althaf made a break, and finally the captain, Usman Shafras, scored another by leaving many questions in the heads of the Thomians. (TCK 29 – 05 STC)
In the dying stage of the first half, Trinity’s defence looked very solid while Thomians were striving for a few minutes. But finally they were penalised for an offside play. The nippy scrum half and the Thomian captain Venuka Wickramasooriya spotted that Trinity defence was a bit lazy, and he took a quick tap and went for the second try and managed to give some life to the game that looked like a walk in the park for Trinitians. Mayanka Dias this time nailed the conversion to cut the deficit. (TCK 29 – 12 STC)
The score remained until halftime, though the first half was really a try-fest.
Half time: Trinity College Kandy 29 (5 T, 2 C) – 12 (2 T, 1 C) St. Thomas’ College
In the second half, Thomian defence looked more solid, and they made it hard to score for the lions. But Trinity stuck to their game plan after some good yards made by the forwards. Suddenly Manusha Silva came off a ruck and went through the defence but was brought down, and he was inches short of the try line. Then they sent the ball wide to their line, and after a single-phase scrum, half-back Udan Wijekoon planted a try just inches away from the corner flag. Shan Althaf nailed a magical conversion kick from the most difficult angle on the field to add the extras. (TCK 36 – 12 STC)
After a few minutes Thomians were determined for a counterattack, and they looked very dangerous inside the Trinity half. This time Thomians sent the ball wide, and this time a huge gap was opened in the Trinity defence. Finally their effort paid off as Zaydaan Akbar went through it to the try line. Mayanka Dias made a successful conversion to cut the deficit. (TCK 36 – 19 STC)
During the final 20 – 25 minutes there were good scoring opportunities for both sides, but the tired bodies and exhausted players could not capitalise on those as mistakes were rising.
Full time: Trinity College Kandy 36 (6 T, 3 C) – 19 (3 T, 2 C) St. Thomas’ College
With this magnificent achievement Trinity College came closer to the league title, especially after the unbeaten Wesley side was outclassed by Isipathana in the same evening. But still uncertainty mounts as the other title contenders also mathematically have a chance to clinch the silverware. If things go in favour of the lions, they will be able to break the hoodoo after their last trump in the year 1987 under Tyrrell Rajapakshe, and also the title will travel to the hill country after the 2013 rugby revolution by the Dharmaraja College under Lochana Hettiarachchi.
Full Time : Trinity College – S. Thomas’ College
Swisstek Perfect Player of the Match : Evin Jayasena (Trinity College, Kandy)
Trinity College, Kandy – 36
Nisith Kumarasinghe 2 T, Shan Althaf 1T 1 C, Hamza Abdeen 1 T, Usman Shafras 1 T, Udan Wijekoon 1 T, Sadeesha Weerawansha 2 C
S. Thomas’ College, Mt. Lavinia –
Seneshka Liyanagunawardana 1 T, Venuka Wickramasooriya 1 T, Zaydaan Akbar 1 T, Mayanka Dias 2 C
