Giant killing Thurstan shock Kingswood
Thurstan College staged their second giant killing act this season, with a stunning 25-21 win against favourites Kingswood College in a third week game of the Dialog Schools Rugby League 2026 played at the Sugathadasa Stadium yesterday. Being dominated earlier in the game, Thurstan made a gradual comeback to lead the halftime by 15-7 and earn a perfect win with five unconverted tries, ending up with bonus points. Kingswood, who suffered their third successive loss, however lacked discipline as in their two previous games, and blew up their chances of succumbing to a newcomer to the league. They scored from three converted tries, yet earned bonus points for losing within the margin of five points.
Kingswood scored first in the 15th minute through a forward move after flyhalf Ashik Azmi made the initiative and earned a 7-0 lead following the conversion by winger Shamith Shafraz. But within five minutes Thurstan staged a gallant comeback off a maul and posted an unconverted try to trail close by 7-5.
Both teams were reduced to 14 after a player each were sent off for yellow card offences in the 24th minute, yet Kingswood failed to capitalise against a spirited Thurstan side, who made a perfect breakthrough with centre Amindu Rajapakshe touching down in the 34th minute to take the lead by 10-7. They wasted little time as centre Akeesha Pushpakumara stunned the entire Kingswood defence to touch down far right and take a 15-7 at halftime.
Kingswood stuck to their game-plan with flanker Themeesha Thillakaratne touching down in the 37th minute, soon after resumption, indicating a possible comeback. With Shafraz’s conversion Kingswood cut down the deficit to 15-14. Soon after Thurstan lost another player to the sin-bin in the 42nd minute, Kingswood scored from their forward Marasinghe off a forward move, and with Shafraz making the conversion they regained the lead by 21-15.
But the resilient Thurstan side made perfect plans to spoil further breaches from Kingswood, and touched down twice, with centre Amindu Rajapakshe touching down in the 49th minute and forward Rasanjana Nirmana bracing a try in the 61st minute to seal a perfect 25-21 win. This was Thurstan’s second major upset after stunning favourites S. Thomas’ College in the opening week fixture.