Vidyartha trounce Zahira

S M Jiffrey Abdeen -Kandy sports corr

Vidyartha College, Kandy trounced Zahira College Colombo by 78 points (4 goals, 10 tries) to 6 (2 penalties) in their schools under 19 segment E rugby tournament match played at campus grounds, Peradeniya on Saturday. At half time Vidyartha College led 34-0.

Vidyartha College once massacred their opponents and in 4 matches this was the only time they could not exceed the century mark. One reason was that heavy rains experienced in the hill country made ground conditions wet and soggy and running with the ball was difficult and another was that Zahirans from Colombo were stronger than the opponents they had faced earlier.

In the matches plays so far they had beaten Asoka Vidyalaya 178-0 beat Kegalu Vidyalaya 164-5, beat Moratu Vidyalaya 126-0 beat Zahira College 78-6 In 4 matches they had scored 546 points averaging a little over 136 points per match which could be a world record.

They would have amassed more points if not for the fact they had not replaced their key players like junior national poolists like centre Dhanushka Talwatte and fly half Ashan Bandara after passing the half century mark and causing victory for themselves.

In most matches after scoring tries, the kicks at goal were taken by the try scores themselves and very often they did not convert them.

In fairness to Vidyartha College and their Mediocre opponents it must be mentioned that they were playing in the Segment A of division one of this tournament where they had a good measure of success of even defeating schools like St Peters College and St Anthony's College last year but a certain irregularity saw them being demoted to five division lower.

This is the sad truth and has resulted being mowed down like a bulldozer on a rampage.

Vidyartha College scored their tries through skipper and centre Dhanushika Talwatte (4), scrum half Chamath Fernando (3), fly half Ashan Bandara (3) full back Isuru Lakmal (1), Winger Kolitha Salinda (1), look forward Lasantha Attanayake (1) Winger Kiduranga Ramawickrema (1), scrum half Chamath Fernando and fly half Ashan Bandara goaled two tries a piece. For Zahira College full back Shakeel Jalaldeen converts the two penalties.

Deepal Punayawardane referred.