Fawaz fires Wesley to semis
A Wesley player is held by desperate Peterite - Pic by Eshan Fernando
In a match that had everything to offer, Wesley College fullback Mohamed Fawaz possibly celebrated Ramadan the most ideal way with his golden boots and canny moves, to see off St. Peter’s College by 33-29 in a thriller quarter-final of the Dialog Schools Knockout President’s Trophy Championship 2026 at Havelock Park yesterday.
Fawaz struck 13 points off his boots, putting over three penalties and two conversions, while creating play and openings to score in Wesley’s tally of four tries, two conversions, three penalties and a drop goal. Despite bracing five tries and putting over two of them, the Peterites found themselves in the receiving end against a more clinical and well-organised Double Blue unit.
The game had everything to offer – perhaps a better deal on the day of Eid-ul-Fitr, with thrills, fills, agony and ecstasy all involved. The game dragged beyond the time what it should have been played to, with long stoppages for injuries and spectator involvement.
Wesley struck early in the game to gain a 10-0 lead by the seventh minute, with prop Nelith Hapugalle landing a try in the fourth minute, and Fawaz putting it over, and flyhalf Shifan Inthikab stunning the Peterites with a skilful drop goal. But St. Peter’s truck immediately when centre Rashvin Sabar went over in the eighth minute to make a perfect retaliation. With winger Geon Rajith’s conversion, the gap came down to 10-7.
Wesley were perfectly countered and contained by the Peterites, who struck again in the 14th minute with a brilliant try off the left from scrumhalf Shirash Perera, who received the ball following a perfect run and a timely offload. With Rajith’s brilliant kick at goal, the Peterites took the lead by 14-10. Wesley received their first blow when prop Abdul Rahman was sent off for a yellow card offence soon after the try.
But they pulled off their moves brilliantly as a fully-fledged side, when winger Prarthana Rodrigo ran through to land a try in the very next minute, as Fawaz put over his third successive conversion to make it 17-14. Gradually making feel the loss of one of their men, St. Peter’s struck well to invade the Wesley territory and brace a try in the 21st minute with their No.8 Gunasinghe converting the effort into points. Though the conversion failed St. Peter’s took a slight lead by 19-17. Centre Sandika Niwunhella then grabbed a blinder to stun the entire Wesley defence in the 24th minute to score a brilliant unconverted try as the lead expanded to 24-17.
Wesley faced their second blow when playmaker and lock Manuga Jayaweera was taken off the field following a concussion with a blue card in the 27th minute, and Peterite centre Sabar was handed a yellow card in the 34th minute after their try-scorer Niwunhella was taken off the field with a fractured shoulder. Wesley took full advantage of the moment to score an unconverted try from centre Manuja Nethsara to take the halftime break at 24-22 in favour of the Peterites.
Soon after the resumption St. Peter’s were reduced to 13 men when centre Lakindu Ranasinghe was handed a yellow card in the 38th minute, as Fawaz struck a penalty that came in Wesley’s favour the very next minute to regain the lead by a whisker 25-24. Fawaz struck another penalty in the 51st minute to further expand Wesley’s lead and chances before he was sent off three minutes later for a yellow card offense.
Soon after Wesley were reduced to 14 men, one of the key players, the Peterites struck again through winger Rajith, who barged over for an unconverted try the very next minute and regain the lead 29-28. But Wesley remained composed, and well-organised, with the forwards attacking and breaking the Peterite defence to create an opening to have hooker Liam Onasiz post an unconverted try in the 65th minute. The game was briefly stopped when match officials refused to take the field with spectators attempting to invade the field and using abusive language.
With the light fading and security tightened, the game resumed only to have the Peterites on the wrong side of all affairs. The game eventually went in favour of Wesley, who sealed it by 33-29 with Fawaz making his return to the field and putting over this third penalty of the game.