ZAM ZAM ZAKÈ ZAM ZAM ZAY
It was Zam Zam Zakè, Zam Zam Zay all the way as Wesley hit the daylights out of Trinity with a rousing 34 points to 21 win in the final of the Milo President’s Trophy knockout rugby tournament played at the Royal Sports Complex ground in Reid Avenue yesterday.
In the process Wesley clinched their first ever major schools rugby title in the history of six decades.
Interestingly the two major school rugby titles this year was won by two schools which were promoted to the top division with Dharmaraja who were the Division 1B league champions last year lifting the league title and Wesley who were the runner up in the Division 1B taking the knockout title.
In fact Wesley came back in the second half after having given a 8-13 lead to Trinity as they ran circles around the Trinity defence to rattle them in the second half. Wesley made up their points through three goals, two tries and a penalty as against to a goal, a try, two penalties and drop goal by Trinity.
It was Wesley who drew first blood in the very first minute with their diminutive No 8 Gavin Siegertsz going over for an unconverted try. From there on the game was closely contested. Trinity had an opportunity of reducing the lead in the 20th minute but fly half Tharinda Ratwatte from whom much was expected was off colour as his kick went astray.
But he made amends five minutes later when he made no mistake with another penalty offered. Trinity took over the lead when centre Ryan Weerakoon went over for a try and Ratwatte adding the extra points.In a ding dong battle that ensued Wesley skipper and scrum half Rahul de Silva succeeded in booting over penalty while in the dying stages of this session Ratwatte’s drop goal saw Trinity increasing the lead to 13-8 which score stood at the short whistle.
The resumption saw Wesley getting their act together and it seemed that they had come into the game well prepared with a plan and everything turned in their favour.
A three try burst within a space of eight minutes by the Wesleyites spearheaded by skipper Rahul de Silva saw the complexion of the game change completely.
Winger Ishaaq Jurangpathy was the first to score. The try was followed by Thisara Maduwantha’s try and then a third by centre Joel Tilekeratne sent the Wesley supporters wild. Skipper Rahul too was in top form as he converted two of these as Wesley led 27-13.
Trinity left with a daunting task of making another 14 points was given little chance by the Wesley defence. With just over ten minutes of play Ratwatte succeeded in booting over a penalty for Trinity but Wesley counter attacked with a try scored by second row Ishara Madushan.
With time running out for the Trinitians Winger Rukshan Sasmin went over for a consolation try before the long whistle was blown giving Wesley a rousing victory.
Referee – Nizam Jamaldeen