Trinity won 23 points to 21, securing the cup championship, whilst Wesley displayed brilliance in breakdowns and gave a sterling performance.
Scrum and Engage for SriLankaSports.com with Christopher Jordashe
Script by Brian Thomas
Views by Fazil Marjah
Third Eye: Tony Amit
It was a game of excessive kicking from Trinity, but a change in the plan in the second half even helped the Lions to lead by 23 points to 7, with 10 minutes on the clock. But credit to Wesley for securing a penalty try and a forwards’ rush in the 69th minute to save their blushes by gaining a losing bonus point.
No doubt, this game was the best schools’ rugby league contest this season because of the quality rugby that was dished out by both teams.
Let’s face it, both teams are champion outfits, but Wesley’s unfortunate loss to Isipathana just could not get them over the line.
Trinity must be congratulated for playing the last 7 minutes with 14 players, with Udara Wijekoon being yellow carded. They also lost their skipper Shafraz due to an injury in the second half, and they also lost their main try scorer Yathalige in the first half due to injury.
I guess this is why Shan Altaf avoided cross kicks close to the Wesley red zone when in attack. Basically, the Altaf and Yathalige combination has yielded 4 cross-kick tries for Trinity this season.
Wesley 7 Trinity 00
The pendulum swung to and fro as Wesley dominated the first half with 70% possession and opened scoring in the 23rd minute, as Trinity conceded a penalty just 5 metres away from their whitewash. Wesley were on the board with 7 points, with an accurate conversion by Wesley full-back Abdul Hadhi.
Wesley 7 Trinity 5
Trinity, for reasons best known to them, started kicking aimlessly to gain territory. Instead, they lost possession more often than not because full-back Hadhi was safe and solid in defence. Wesley could have scored more, but Trinity defence is sublime, period. Trinity paved their way into Wesley’s red zone through an unforced error and a twin infringement. Trinity skipper barged through to score almost under the posts, but Shan Altaf’s conversion hit the upright. Hence, Trinity took half-time trailing by 2 points.
Trinity 12 Wesley 5
Trinity changed their plans in the second half. They knew the kicking game must come to an end. Surely, they were given clear instructions on the directive of Fazil Marjah, who reads the game very well.
He dotted down Wesley’s area of vulnerability and got his forwards to do the hard work.
Four minutes into play after half-time, Trinity attacked the fringes of the Wesley defence through a pick-and-go drive for Arkash Fernando, the lanky second-row forward, to touch down.
Shan Altaf, who missed a penalty in the first half, got his boot to perfection, and Trinity led for the first time by 12 points to 7.
Trinity 17 points to 7
Trinity gave Wesley a taste of their own medicine, counter-rucking quickly and recycling the ball to get the line in motion. It was another 5-metre scrum in the Wesley red zone. The Trinity forwards in attack looked a different outfit after the lemons. The ball came out of the scrum, and Trinity number 8 Satish Kumar simply took 2 Wesley forwards with him and scored Trinity’s 3rd try. Sadly, Shan Altaf missed the conversion.
Trinity 20 Wesley 7
They say when you let Trinity dominate, they camp in the opposition territory using phase after phase, and the heavy Wesley forwards were getting sucked in at this stage. Unforced errors and infringements started to creep into Wesley’s defence against the Lions’ smart open rugby.
An infringement by a Wesley forward gave Shan Altaf an opportunity to convert a 40-metre penalty through the uprights, and Trinity now led by a margin of 13 points.
Trinity 23 Wesley 7
In the 60th minute, it was a beauty on sight. As the evening shadows deepened, Wesley made a mistake by kicking aimlessly into the hands of Shan Altaf, who was just inside the Wesley half. The kick landed safely in the arms of Altaf, who took his time and executed a peach of a drop goal. It was a classy execution, and Trinity conveyed a message to Wesley by even switching Jayasena and two other replacements from the bench, and these were the indications that the game, with 10 minutes from the long whistle, looked done and dusted.
Trinity 23 Wesley 14
Trinity almost got the bonus try, but on referral to the wide-screen replay, it showed that Hamza Abdeen, who intercepted a pass close to the defending Wesley whitewash, did not touch down cleanly, dropping the ball on impact to the ground, and the try, sadly, was disallowed.
Trinity 23 Wesley 14
With approximately 8 minutes left on the clock, credit to Wesley – they read the mindset of the Trinitians and their fresh legs. Trinity defended a pick-and-go drive by Wesley, and they were awarded a penalty try after many replay referrals because Hapugala, who went over, was inches short, but the Trinity tackler was guilty of a high shot. Hence, referee Alexander ruled in favour of the visitors with a penalty try and the double gift of awarding a yellow card to the Trinity player. Experts raised eyebrows on that decision.
Trinity 23 Wesley 21
In the 70th minute, the Trinity forwards, who had done overtime in defence and ball-carrying, let Wesley off the hook as the visitors forced a scrum with 30 seconds to full-time due to an unforced error by a Trinity forward in defence. Wesley did well to secure a losing bonus point, and the game ended 23 points to 21.
A classy game of great rugby played by the two best teams of the 2025 league season. Trinity are the winners of the Cup Championship, which they achieved after 38 long years. Brilliant team who got their act together in the 2nd round and improved tremendously. Surely a cut above the rest. But in all fairness, they were tested.
Views: Trinity Coach Fazil Marjah
Quote: “I am proud but tongue-tied to share my inward joy of our boys. They played it clean and, most importantly, very disciplined. We have won the league after 38 years, 8 wins on the trot, but we are not finished yet – St Peter’s next week, and our two Bradby games against our arch-rivals Royal. They are an improved side, and so is St Peter’s, who also beat Isipathana.
My boys will not rest on their laurels; they know the season is not over for us. My gratitude to our Principal, the Scrumage, my support staff, and my sincere appreciation to all our old boys and parents, and well-wishers for making this a memorable win and a historic day. Last but not least, thank you, Wesley. You played good, competitive rugby.”
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