A Game of Two Halves: Wesley Tames DS with Ruthless Attack and Immovable Defense
June 17, 2025
A Game of Two Halves: Wesley Tames DS with Ruthless Attack and Immovable Defense
By Adib Azwer –
Wesley College delivered a commanding performance in their latest rugby clash against D.S. Senanayake College, winning 29-10 in a match that truly was a tale of two halves. Despite missing key forwards Nelith Hapugalle, Ashan Emmanuel, and Hashim Thabeeth, the Double Blues put on a ruthless attacking display in the first half and followed it up with a masterclass in defense after the break.
The game got off to a chaotic start with a wobbly kickoff from DS, and Wesley wasted no time asserting dominance. In just under a minute, they set up a maul off a stolen DS lineout, reminiscent of Abdullah Siddeek’s iconic 50 meter maul try from 2023. The pressure continued as Naham Hemachandra, Wesley’s No.7, applied relentless heat at a DS scrum, charged down the clearance kick, and went on to score the opening try. Fullback Haadhi added the extras to make it 7-0.
Wesley’s forward pack continued to shine, setting up another powerful maul that led to a try by Pawan Thirangama, with Haadhi once again making no mistake with the boot. Within 10 minutes, it was 14-0, and DS had barely touched the ball.
Though DS managed to enter Wesley’s red zone, they were unable to crack the defense. A smart play from Naham disrupted a DS maul and earned Wesley possession. DS eventually got on the board through a penalty kick from Tatheera Perera, but Wesley responded with more pressure. Naham charged down another kick, and despite a knock-on, Wesley regained momentum and Naham scored his second try of the day, converted once again by Haadhi for a 21-3 lead.
DS had another opportunity to reduce the deficit before halftime, but missed their penalty, leaving Wesley comfortably ahead. The first 35 minutes had been a dominant attacking clinic from the Double Blues.
The second half saw DS come out with renewed intent. They created multiple chances and were aided by two yellow cards against Wesley—first to Pawan for a tackle in the air, and later to Naham for persistent infringement. With Wesley down to 13 men, DS had golden chances, especially from several 5 meter lineouts. But time and again, the Double Blues held their ground. The visitors even had two tries ruled out by the TMO—one for a dropped ball over the line, and another for double movement.
DS finally broke through an hour into the match, scoring their first and only try of the game. But Wesley answered immediately. In their only visit to the DS 22 in the second half, they worked the ball beautifully across the line for Prarthana Rodrigo to touch down. The score now read 29-10.
Despite having over 11 entries into the Wesley 22-meter area, DS managed to score just once. In contrast, Wesley entered the DS 22 only four times—and scored every single time. It was a showcase of clinical attacking and unshakeable defense, highlighted by DS’s repeated unforced errors under pressure.
Man of the Match honors rightly went to Naham Hemachandra, whose impact on both ends of the field was unmatched—from scoring two tries to leading the defensive stand when his team needed it the most.
With this win, Wesley continues their unbeaten run and sets their sights on the upcoming battle against St. Anthony’s College. If they can maintain the same intensity and discipline, the Double Blues look set to go the distance.
1 Comment
Much needed ❤️