Dominant Zahira’s second half blitz destroys Mahanama
A game that was predicted to be a close and thrilling affair took a complete twist as Zahira College recorded a smashing 58-17 victory against Mahanama College in the final first-round game of the Dialog Schools Rugby League 2025 played at Maradana yesterday.
Following their 10-try feast, Zahira will enter the Plate Segment of the competition in a fortnight with confident as the hosts earned their second win of the group stage in style, converting four of the tries scored. Zahira led 22-5 at half-time, but making the prediction somewhat accurate, Mahanama shocked the hosts with a first-minute unconverted try, the first of three tries and a conversion that gave them their total points.
By the end of the first half, Zahira had already secured vital bonus points after scoring four tries, of which only one was converted by a struggling full-back Abdullah Hassan, who later found his rhythm.
Prop Zain Hussein scored the unconverted try that helped Zahira equalise at 5-all in the sixth minute, after which skipper and centre Luqman Ul Hakeen breached the Mahanama defence to score an unconverted try in the 21st minute that put them in the lead 10-5. Winger Imadh Inam sold a dummy to a desperate Mahanama defensive line that was breached in the 24th minute for another unconverted try to put Zahira further ahead by 15-5.
The hosts earned the bonus points when scrum-half Afam Abdeen ran across brilliantly to fool the entire Mahanama defence and give Hassan an easy opportunity to convert. With that, Zahira went to half-time with a 22-5 lead, not knowing that the change of ends would hand them a dream victory to remember for a long time.
After the resumption, Zahira dominated and shocked the visitors, whilst delighting their supporters with a feat of five tries within a span of 15 minutes. Winger Basith Feroze (39th minute), centre Binuk Perera (41st), winger Imadh Inam (45th), No.8 Sahib Ishan (48th) and skipper Luqman (50th) added tries to see Zahira taking full control of the game with a lead of 53-5, after Hassan and Feroze took turns in making the conversions.
Fly-half Sithum Sandeepa managed to give Mahanama a sign of relief when he breached the hosts’ defence in the 58th minute by scoring a try and converting to see his team reach double figures, yet still far behind at 53-12. Winger Ghani Saraph completed what could be termed one of the most perfect and entertaining backline moves of the season after the entire Zahira back division combined to score their team’s final and tenth try in the 62nd minute. With a failed conversion they further expanded the lead to 58-12, until Mahanama winger Nethum Nimvira turned the tide to give his team a consolation unconverted try to end the game at 58-17.