Wesley retain Plate Championship

Wesley College retained the Plate Rugby Championship where they pulled off a 26 points(3 Goals, 1 Try) to 20 (2 Goals , 2 penalties) win over St.Anthony’s College Kandy in the decider played yesterday at CR and FC grounds at Longden place. Both teams played a superb brand of rugby and in the 19th minute of play Wesley College winger P.H.D.M.Ranaweera scored a try off a beautiful three quarter move which was converted by their play maker Chamika Kusal and Wesley led 7-nil. The Antonians were awarded two back to back penalties for infringements by Wesley and their full back Kumara Maduwantha put over both penalties from difficult angles to close the gap to just one point. Wesley 7, St.Anthony’s 6. There was no further scoring before the breather with Wesley leading 7-6. After the resumption in the eighth minute of the second half off a ruck St.Anthony’s worked their three quarter line where their speedy wing three quarter D.M.Jayatissa went over the line for a try. Full back Kumara Maduwantha put over the difficult touch line conversion and for the first time Antonians took the lead by 13 points to 7.

Within five minutes Wesley set their line in motion where their scrum half Avishka Lee scored off a fantastic three quarter move. winger Chamika Kusal made the conversion to take the lead back to Wesley. The score read 14-13 in favour off Wesley. In the 16th minute of play a St.Anthony’s player knocked on and Wesley collected the loose ball and worked their line for their captain cum winger Omar Kuthubdeen to score a superb try and their place kicker Chamika Kusal made the conversion to make it 21-13 in favour of Wesley. Antonians received a scrum in their 50 metre and their captain cum number eight Newman Dilan made a brilliant break from the base where he ran more than 25 metres and gave a beautiful off load to his centre Dinuk Amarasinghe who burst through for a fantastic try after brushing off several Wesley defenders to score mid right. Full back Kumara Maduwantha made the conversion and the score read 21 – 20 in favour of Wesley. Within the space of four minutes Wesley College Sealed the game when they worked their three quarter line off a ongoing maul where their hard working 2nd row Mithila Perera scored a fabulous try but their winger Chamika Kusal missed the conversion and Wesley ranout winners by 26 points to 20. Referee Irshad Cader