Vidyartha win William Gopallawa Shield

Vidyartha College, Kandy stored off a late rally by Ananda College to register a good 31 points (three goals, two tries) to 22 (one goal, three tries) in their William Gopallawa Shield Rugby encounter played at the Nittawela Rugby Stadium, Kandy. At half scores were level at 12 all.

Vidyartha College were leading 31-12 till the last 10 minute of play when the Anandians fought back to reduce the gap with two unconverted and were pressing for the third one when time ran out for them.

It was Vidyartha who opened early in the game when fly half Chathura Perera went over and added the extra points himself.

But Ananda leveled the scores through a try by flanker Sandunika Perera and this was goaled by fly half Pramuditha Pushpakumara.

Vidyartha once again took the lead when centre Geeth Madhusanka scored far left off a three quarter move. Chathura Perera missed the conversion.

Minutes before the lemon the Anandian once again leveled the scores through an unconverted try by winger Senura Jayasinghe.

Sin binning of fly half Chathura Perera saw Vidyartha being reduced to 14 players but still they managed to breads Ananda’s defence through centre Geeth Madhusan and this was goaled by winger Dilum Paradiwatte. At this stage Ananda’s Avishka MAdhushan was sent on sin bin for tackling without the ball.

Fly half Chathura back in the field scored his second try and added the extra points for Vidyartha to lead 26-12. Midway in this half winger Dilum Paradiwatte out through the Ananda defence to score by the left corner flag.

Vidyartha led 31-12.

It was at this stage that the Ananda fight back was seen.

First it was winger Sachin Manujaya and later No 8 Tharuka Senaviratne who scored unconverted tries to close the gap to 31-22. Deepal Punnyawardena refereed.