Stubborn Kingswood bounce back to stun Zahira
Kingswood College pulled off a sensational comeback to snatch victory from Zahira College with a thrilling 27-18 win in their Dialog Schools Rugby League 2025 third-week clash at Maradana yesterday.
Kingswood piled up a total of 27 points through three converted tries and two penalties in a spirited performance, while Zahira managed 18 points with two tries, a conversion and two penalties. The lads from Randles Hills struck when it mattered most, turning a narrow 13-20 deficit into a commanding 27-18 victory in the final minutes.
A Kingswood forward goes past Zahira defenders to gain ground - Pic by Eshan Fernando
In a game that ebbed and flowed like a tug-of-war, the KIngswood staged a heart-stopping rally in the dying minutes, crossing the line twice in the last five minutes to turn the tables on the Zahirians, who had led 11-10 at the breather.
Zahira struck first blood as early as the second minute when their speedy winger darted over in the left corner for an unconverted try, giving them a 5-0 cushion. Kingswood replied through a penalty from fullback Rivin Bawdeen in the 10th minute, trimming the gap to 5-3.
The home team, however, kept their scoreboard ticking with two successive penalties from burly prop Tuan Raheem in the 15th and 24th minutes, extending their lead to 11-3. Kingswood, battling with 14 men after a sin-bin setback, hit back just before halftime when their powerful No.8 Maduranga Pushpakumara bulldozed his way over mid-left. Replacement kicker Ashik Asmi added the extras to narrow the deficit to a slender one point at the break, 11-10.
The second half turned into a gritty arm-wrestle, with both teams reduced to 14 men after Zahira skipper Luqman Nadeem was sin-binned in the 47th minute. Kingswood capitalised when Bawdeen slotted a penalty to nose ahead 13-11 in the 58th minute.
But Zahira weren’t done. Flyhalf Hakeem Chunchi darted over in the 62nd minute and converted his own try to give the Colombo school a 20-13 advantage. However, playing with just 13 men in the latter stages, Zahira ran out of steam.
Kingswood seized the momentum. Lock Menusha Marasinghe crashed over under the posts in the 69th minute and with Asmi’s conversion, the visitors reclaimed the lead at 20-18. The Kandy lads then drove the final nail in Zahira’s coffin when winger Asmi, who had an outstanding outing with the boot, converted Kingswood’s third try in the dying moments to seal a famous 27-18 victory.