By Brian Thomas and Christopher Jordashe – Reporting exclusively for SriLankaSports.com
It was one-way traffic at Nittawela yesterday as Wesley College outplayed St. Anthony’s College in wet and slippery conditions, claiming a dominant 24–3 win. Despite being away from home, the Double Blues looked far more composed and organized, particularly in defense.
Wesley controlled the game from the outset, exploiting the fringes and searching for gaps around the breakdown. Their persistence paid off 16 minutes in, as the Anthonian defense, under pressure and misfiring at the ruck, allowed Wesley to draw first blood.
Despite the home-ground advantage and weather that suited them, the Anthonians struggled to adapt. Wesley’s forwards looked better conditioned and more purposeful. Their first try—scored in the right corner following a well-executed rolling maul—set the tone for a forwards-driven approach suited to the soggy conditions.
St. Anthony’s only points came via a penalty, after a Wesley forward was shown yellow. That solitary kick gave the home side brief hope, but it was short-lived.
By halftime, Wesley led 12–3. The score could have been higher if not for the difficult underfoot conditions and handling errors with the wet ball, which denied them multiple opportunities.
After the break, the Double Blues turned up the pressure. They added two more tries, one of which was converted, to seal the game at 24–3. Credit must go to Head Coach Terrence, who used the comfortable margin to rotate his bench, giving all players a taste of the Nittawela turf.
St. Anthony’s, for their part, never seriously threatened the Wesley try line. Their attack lacked direction and drive, often running laterally rather than taking the game head-on. Even in the final moments, when they pushed to salvage a consolation score, Wesley’s defense held firm until the final whistle.
In truth, it was a one-sided affair, with Wesley dominating every aspect from start to finish.
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