Trinity dominate Lumbini
Coming out for the first time since getting hold of the Dialog Schools Knockout Championship 2026, title holders Trinity College made a remarkable start to their Dialog Schools Rugby League 2026 campaign with a commanding 55-12 win against new entrants Lumbini College at Pallekele yesterday.
Entering the game with a totally different starting lineup, Trinity pulled off the commanding win with a tally of eight tries, six conversions and a penalty, while leading by 27-5 at halftime. Despite being newcomers to the top league, Lumbini were brilliant whenever they were in possession, and scored from two brilliant running tries, and a conversion, all coming from their erudite skipper and winger Sachintha Induwara.
It was Trinity who took an early 3-0 lead off a penalty with winger Ammar Faizal taking over kicking duties, and aptly following through to post his team’s opening try in the seventh minute to make it 8-0. Lock Evin Jayasena went over for an unconverted try in the 12th minute as Trinity surged to reach 13-0, as winger Dimath Ambeypitiya barged through a hapless Lumbini defence in the 17th minute. With Faizal’s conversion Trinity’s lead expanded to 20-0 before Lumbini made a brilliant breakthrough and ran around to hand skipper and winger Induwara to complete a brilliant running try in the 23rd minute to cut down the deficit to 20-5. Trinity skipper Shan Althaf toyed the Lumbini defence to cut across and score just before the short whistle, as Faizal slotted the conversion to put them ahead by 27-5.
Lumbini approached the second half with a different plan, despite Trinity having most of the possession, until skipper Induwara intercepted brilliantly and covered almost the entire field to touch down in the 41st minute. Induwara himself put over the conversion as Lumbini hinted of a possible retaliation with the deficit cut down to 27-12.
But that very interception changed Trinity’s approach as they went over to score at will in the remainder of the game. Prop Rithika Weragama was first to cross over in the 45th minute, with flanker Hamza Abdeen making a breakthrough in the 56th minute to post Trinity’s second try in the second session. Prop Naheel Jayah joined the party with a well-crafted try in the 61st minute before No.8 Achintha Jayasena ran half of the field to brace Trinity’s eighth try before the end of the game. Faizal put over all four tries as Trinity sealed a commanding 55-12 win, indicating their intention to retain the league title.