Ananda College power past sloppy Sri Sumangala in Plate fixture
Ananda College produced a clinical second-half display to dispatch a lacklustre Sri Sumangala College by 36-17 in a Plate Segment encounter of the Dialog Schools Rugby League 2025, played at the Ananda College ground in Rajagiriya yesterday.
Having fallen behind just two minutes into the match, Ananda regrouped swiftly and capitalised on a catalogue of errors from their Kandy-based opponents to register a comprehensive bonus-point victory, scoring five tries, four conversions, and a penalty. Sri Sumangala, who managed three tries and a solitary conversion, were left to rue their missed opportunities — squandering two straightforward conversions and a penalty that could have significantly narrowed the margin.
The visitors began brightly, opening the scoring through hooker Rasandu Sahas in the second minute, which was converted to add extra points to give Sumangala a 7-0 lead. Ananda responded in the 16th minute when winger Thenula Wijewardena touched down in the right corner, though fullback Dinesh Chamuditha failed with the conversion.
Chamuditha, however, found his rhythm soon after, bisecting the posts with a penalty in the 22nd minute to edge Ananda ahead 8-7. Their lead was short-lived, as Adithya Rathnayake crossed over in the 23rd minute for Sri Sumangala, though the conversion attempt drifted wide, giving the visitors a 12-8 advantage.
From there, Ananda asserted their authority. Hooker Janithu Perera barged over from a rolling maul, with Chamuditha duly converting to restore the lead at 15-12. Sri Sumangala had a golden opportunity to draw level in the 32nd minute after Ananda were penalised for a high tackle, but a straightforward penalty attempt went awry — a moment that typified their wasteful afternoon.
On the stroke of half-time, Vishwa Erandika dived over for Ananda’s third try, and Chamuditha’s accurate boot extended their advantage to 22-12 at the break — a 10-point cushion that only widened in the second half.
Sri Sumangala continued to falter post-interval, plagued by handling errors and poor decision-making. Ananda took full advantage, with Dineth Dilshan scoring under the posts in the 45th minute. Chamuditha added the extras with ease, pushing the scoreline to 29-12.
Sumangala briefly threatened a fightback with a try in the 53rd minute, but another missed conversion left them trailing by 12 points. That was to be their final contribution, as Chamuditha capped off a fine individual performance by scoring and converting Ananda’s fifth try in the 66th minute, sealing a commanding 36-17 win.