Dialog Schools Rugby League Zahira begin campaign in style

By M. Shamil Amit

Zahira College began their Dialog Schools Rugby League tournament campaign in style with a convincing 54 points to 19 win over Dharmaraja in the match played at Zahira ground in Maradana yesterday.

The first half turned out to be a closely contested with Zahira holding on to a three point (15-12) lead at the breather and they went on the rampage in the second session whilst accumulating their points through two goals and eight tries to the two goals and a try scored by Dharmaraja.

The match was expected to be a closely contested affair but it was not to be as the Zahirians went on a scoring spree as they planted seven tries in this session to the solitary try by the Rajans.

Zahira went into the lead in the first nine minutes scoring back to back tries frist in the sixth minute by flanker Iyad Yusuf and three minutes later second flanker Rifaz Ameen but the two conversions were kicked astray.

It took another 15 minutes for the next scoring to be done which was by the Rajans who too planted back to back tries within the space of nine minutes with full back Sadesh Bandara going over for the first in the 23rd minute and center Pahan Rajapakse in the 33rd minute but fly half Damsith Ratnayake was able to boot over over only one conversion as the Rajans went into the lead 12-10.

From there on the two sides shared honors but the Zahirians had the advantage and they made use of the opportunity to surge ahead through an unconverted try scored by full back Basith Feroz in the dying systages to lead 15-12 at the breather.

Action from the match between Zahira and Dharmaraja 
Pix by Kushan Pathiraja

The second half burst proved to be too much for the Rajans as the Zahirians scored at will which began in the eitght minute with prop forward Zain Hassan going over for two tries in the eighth and 12th minute but again the conversions were kicked astray. From there it was a rain of tries as they went over for five more tries in the 18th minute by winger Iflan Imtiaz, 21st minute by center Binuk Perera, 24th minute by second row Abdullah Hassan, 29th minute by second row Azmil Aakif and in the 32nd minute by center Zain Zahir while Abdullah Hassan was able to boot over only one conversion.

With the match almost sealed in favour of the Zahirians the Rajans in a last minute effort succeeded to go over for a consolation try in the dying stage of the game which was converted as the Zahirians came out victors with the minimum of fuss to beging their campaign on a winning note.

Referee – Aruna Shantha