Schools Rugby Roundup – Week in Review (Part 1)
By Brian Thomas and Christopher Jordashe | Reporting exclusively for SriLankaSports.com
Under the editorial direction of our rugby mentor Christopher Jordashe, we present a two-part wrap-up of this week’s schools rugby action, with seven fiercely contested games giving us plenty to analyze. Here’s the first look into the dominant performances from Trinity, Royal, and St Thomas’, and a fierce test of grit for several others.
Trinity maul Vidyartha 74–14 at Pallekele
Trinity College put on an authoritative display at Pallekele, dismantling Vidyartha College 74–14 in a dominant performance. Despite Vidyartha showing early signs of fight by scoring two tries in the first half, the Lions overwhelmed their opponents with eleven tries in total.
Head Coach Fazil Marija smartly utilized his full bench strength, and the home side impressed with quick breakdowns, structured phase play, and notable discipline. Trinity’s reduced infringements and improved backline execution were key highlights, with both Shan Altaf and Wanasuriya handling conversion duties.
Trailing 29–14 at halftime, Vidyartha completely collapsed in the second half. Their defense was disjointed, morale visibly low, and intent lacking, allowing Trinity to cross at will. Questions linger about what went wrong for Vidyartha after a relatively decent first half, but one thing is clear: Trinity are a class apart.
St Thomas’ grind out a 43–19 win over Zahira in slippery Mount Lavinia
Despite treacherous underfoot conditions caused by heavy rain, St Thomas’ College showcased their rugby maturity to outplay Zahira 43–19. The game, played on a sodden surface by the sea, was largely dictated by the heavier Thomian forwards.
St Thomas’ adopted a phase-heavy strategy using well-coordinated pick-and-drives and well-controlled mauls. Their lineouts were tactically limited in numbers, drawing Zahira’s defense wide while retaining the ball in tight for effective forward surges.
Zahira managed three tries in the second half, briefly threatening to claw back, but the Thomians’ structure and physical superiority ensured the win. Conversions and penalty kicks also played their part, with four converted tries and two penalties taking them to a comfortable margin.
Royal dominate Sri Sumangala 53–3 in soggy Bogambara
In the bog of Bogambara, Royal College made light work of Sri Sumangala, cruising to a 53–3 victory. The dreadful underfoot conditions and muddy terrain didn’t deter the boys from Reid Avenue, who smartly chose to play tight, forward-centric rugby.
Controlling 80% of territory, Royal pinned Sumangala in their own half for most of the match. They might have run up a bigger score if not for the slippery ball and soggy pitch. Coach Lewke’s side continues to improve, and their tactical awareness under adverse conditions is a sign that they are strong contenders for the Super Sixes.
Schools Rugby Roundup – Week in Review (Part 2)
We now shift our focus to the four other key matchups this week, where St. Peter’s, Ananda, Mahanama, and St. Joseph’s each delivered winning performances—some comfortable, some hard-earned.
St Peter’s edge out St Anthony’s 24–8 at soggy Nittawela
In what was expected to be a dominant outing for defending champions St. Peter’s, the Bamba Brigade instead had to battle hard for a 24–8 win in the muck of Nittawela. The Anthonians were superb in defense, frustrating St. Peter’s attacking rhythm with aggressive ruck play and disciplined maul disruption.
Trailing 12–8 at halftime, St. Peter’s eventually found success through persistent forward play in the second half, scoring two more tries via grinding pick-and-go sequences. While the champions collected a bonus point, this was a game they’ll prefer to learn from rather than celebrate.
Ananda edges Science 32–26 in thrilling B Division clash
Promoted Ananda College pulled off an impressive win over Science College in a thrilling 32–26 contest. Despite Science having multiple chances to take the lead, untimely infringements cost them dearly.
Ananda’s structured attacking formations, strong three-quarter execution, and tighter breakdown discipline helped them edge ahead. Science’s defensive line often looked flat and disorganized—an issue they’ll want to fix quickly. This win will significantly boost Ananda’s confidence as they eye bigger scalps ahead.
St Joseph’s bounce back with 26–5 win over Thurstan
After a testing loss to Vidyartha last week, St. Joseph’s College got back on track with a comprehensive 26–5 win over Thurstan. Playing expansive rugby, the Josephians dictated the tempo, running in multiple tries while stifling Thurstan’s attacking threats.
Thurstan’s single try shows their determination, but the gap in experience and skill was evident. St. Joseph’s now look forward to climbing the ladder with renewed confidence.
Mahanama scrape past Dharmaraja 15–5 in Kandy
Mahanama College managed a scrappy 15–5 win over a determined Dharmaraja side still recovering from a heavy loss to Zahira. Despite spending much of the game in the Rajans’ half, the Colpetty lads failed to finish off opportunities and missed out on a valuable bonus point.
Dharmaraja showed heart in defense, but lacked the offensive structure to threaten consistently. Mahanama will be pleased with the win, but must improve finishing if they are to be serious contenders.
Looking Ahead
Today’s fixtures see Isipathana take on Kingswood and the Donz facing Wesley College. Last week, our editor Christopher Jordashe named Wesley the Team of the Week—will they repeat that honor, or will another school rise to the top? Stay tuned.
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