Shocked by Ananda, St. Peter’s overhaul themselves to record clinical win
Title holders St. Peter’s College walked out with a resounding 38-22 win against newcomers Ananda College in their opening match of the Dialog Schools Rugby League 2025 at Bambalapitiya yesterday, but the unit may have to rethink its strategies moving forward.
Coming out for the first time with the intention of defending their title, the Peterites were given a rightful and shocking challenge by the unsuspecting Anandians, who held on to a comprehensive lead for more than 10 minutes of the game. Yet, the seasoned unit they are known to be, St. Peter’s clinically overhauled the setbacks to record a bonus-point win, with six tries and four conversions powering their cause after a healthy 28-19 lead at halftime. For a new entrant to the top division, Ananda displayed maturity to have their opponents at bay, while completing their tally with three tries, two conversions and a penalty.
Whenever St. Peter’s gained possession, they were unstoppable - Pic by M.A. Pushpa Kumara
Centre Senuth Dinsara and flyhalf Ashock Krishan accounted for their antics that paved the way for a trademark Peterite win. Dinsara braced two tries – the first in the 14th minute, and his second that managed to break the 14-all deadlock in the 26th minute, as Krishan contributed with the boot by converting four of the tries.
In between Ananda shocked St. Peter’s, with a rolling maul that culminated with a try off hooker Wethum Kithnula in the 17th minute, and runaway stunner by fullback Deneth Chamuditha three minutes later. With Chamuditha turning out the key contributor for Ananda with 10 points from a try, conversion and a penalty, Ananda equalised 7-all and took the lead 14-7, before fullback Emith Jayaweera, also the skipper managed to record the equaliser in the 26th minute.
Winger Nethushan Methsara further put the Peterites ahead with a stunning try in the 33rd minute to expand the lead to 28-14, but Ananda were still on with their moves, which completed with an unconverted try from No.8 Seymal Wimalasuriya to see them trailing by 19-28 at the break.
Chamuditha indicated another possible Ananda surge in the 48th minute, after the resumption, with a penalty that narrowed their gap to 28-22. And they went on to frustrate the hosts by thwarting every possible attempt, until lock Revon Perera broke the shackles to post an unconverted try in the 54th minute. With Ananda further continuing their onslaught, the game was still poised at 33-22, but the skilled Peterites handled the situation well to complete with another unconverted try from replacement winger Pasan Pamuditha at the brink of fulltime to walkout winners by 38-22.