Sports - Wesley provide the fireworks to beat ‘Thora’

Wesley provide the fireworks to beat ‘Thora’

Wesley – 36 --- S. Thomas’ – 7

By Bernie Wijesekera

Rugby football at its best was seen in a sea of mud at Longden Place yesterday. Wesley provided the sparks and fire in a heart-warming display of open rugby to beat S. Thomas’ by 36 points (3 goals and 3 tries) to 7 (a goal) in a schools game.

This Wesley forward is hounded by a Thomian and Wesley players move in to support. A tense moment in the Wesley vs S. Thomas’ game at Longden Place. Wesley won 36-7. – Pic. by Ranjith Perera

The Thomians played in fits and starts. However they lacked stamina, strength and fitness to match the marauding Wesley back division, who handled the wet ball admirably. The Thomians were without their granite hard No 8 Yoshitha Rajapaksa who was nursing an injury. The side was led by vice-captain B. Thaneeshan. He stood out in the last line but lacked the support to stop the Wesley avalanche.

The Thomians had a fair amount of good ball but failed to utilize it. The Wesley forwards rucked and mauled beautifully and the back division ran riot against the hapless Thomian defence. Two Wesley players were shown the yellow card.

Rohitha Rajapaksa played as No 8 in the absence of his brother Yoshitha. The Thomians fielded a couple of youngsters. Wesley however matched their counterparts with a fine exhibition of open rugby.

The first Wesley try came in the 17th minute off a penalty in the Thomian 25. Scrum half Lakshan Samantha corkscrewed over the line. He himself converted. The second try came off a grubber in the goal area when lock Rumesh Kudaligama touched down for an unconverted try. Half time 12-0.

After the turnaround, Wesley took control to plant four tries. In the sixth minute Chanaka Peters scored and Yasas Nonis added the extra points. (19-0). The next try was by Niran Wickremaratne which was unconverted. (24-0) Then came a try by Yomal Amarasinghe (29-0).

The Thomians got their act together to score their solitary try through full back Thaneeshan. Fly half Sadevai Dharmadasa added the extra points. The final try for Wesley was by Chanaka Peters which was converted by Yasas Nonis. (36-7).

Referee - Dilroy Fernando.

Wesley won the under 16 game 12-0.

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