Rajans rout Thomians - 46/8

S M Jiffrey ABDEEN- Kandy Sports Correspondent

Dharmaraja College took a step closer to the 'B' division title when they registered an easy 46 points (5 goals, 1 drop goal, 1 penalty, 1 try) to 8 (1 try, 1 penalty) win over St Thomas College, Mount Lavinia in their schools under 19 division one segment B rugby tournament match played at the Bogambara stadium, Kandy yesterday. At half time Rajans led 12-3.

This win by the Rajans smashed the unbeaten record of the Thomians this season. The Rajans have one more hurdle against Wesley College before annexing the championship title and getting promoted to the higher division.

The Thomians put up a poor display and allowed the Rajans far too many liberties. Match winner for the Rajans was their full back Tilina Wijesinghe who scored a try, executed a drop goal, put over a penalty and goalled five tries to bring his personal tally of points to 21.

Rajans opened scoring in the 10th minute when lock forward Lochana Fernando went far right and this try went unconverted.

In the 21st minute winger Lahiru Fernando made a breezy run to score under the post and full back Tilina Wijesinghe added the extra points.

It was in the 32nd minute the Thomians were able to reduce the lead when stand off Devin Jayasinghe converted a 30 metre penalty.

But the second half turned to be a one sided affair as the Rajans ran amok to punch holes in the Thomians defence at regular intervals. The defence put up by the Thomians was poor as they allowed the Rajans to run with the ball, often penetrating deep into their defence.

Two tries by centre Dilantha Madusanka in quick succession which were goalled by Tilina Wijesinghe which enabled the Rajans to lead 26-3.

In the 11th minute, the Thomians made their last scoring when flanker Danaj de Silva pierced a gap in the Rajans defence to score far left and this try went unconverted.

It was that man Tilina Wijesinghe again who converted a 35 metre penalty and also executed a 30 metre drop goal to stretch Rajans lead to 32-8.

Tilina Wijesinghe continued to rub salt into the wounds of the Thomians when he joined the three quarters to touch down, under the posts and added the extra points himself.

With two minutes to go, flanker Malinda Herath sliced through the Thomian defence to score under the posts and Tilina Wijesinghe added the extra points.

Priyantha Gunaratne refereed.