Wesley Keeps Momentum Alive With Dominant Win Over Ananda
July 7, 2025
Wesley Keeps Momentum Alive With Dominant Win Over Ananda
By Akhlaq Gazzali –
Wesley College continued their unbeaten streak in style, dismantling Ananda College 43–11 in a one-sided affair at Havelock Park. With this commanding win, the Double Blues wrapped up the first round of the league with five consecutive victories, punching their ticket to the Cup Championship alongside heavyweights Trinity, S. Thomas’, Isipathana, Royal, and St. Peter’s.
The early signs were electric. Wesley wasted no time asserting themselves, with winger Prarthana Rodrigo crossing the line just two minutes in. Deputy skipper Abdul Haadi added the extras, and Rodrigo followed up with a second try soon after, giving Wesley a confident 12–0 cushion.
Ananda clawed back briefly, capitalizing on a yellow card shown to Wesley’s speedster Kavisha Dilhara for a late tackle. Deneth Chamuditha slotted two penalties to bring Ananda within six points. But Wesley answered quickly—this time through their captain, Sandul Gammanpila, who powered over for their third try, again converted by Haadi.
Before the break, Wesley earned their bonus-point try thanks to Pawan Thiranagama, ending the first half comfortably ahead at 24–6.
The restart saw no let-up from the Campbell Park outfit. Hamdan Safraz, often understated but deadly in execution, opened second-half scoring. Moments later, a pinpoint kick from Haadi found Kyzer Lye, who dashed over for try number six. With 44 minutes gone, Wesley had surged to a 38–6 lead.
Ananda showed heart with a well-worked kick-and-chase try in the 61st minute, closing the gap to 38–11. But Wesley had the final say. A rolling maul in the 66th minute ended with their seventh and final try, sealing a 43–11 triumph and underlining their championship credentials.
With their eyes now set on a high-stakes Cup run, Wesley will next face Isipathana—a rematch with deep emotional stakes. The last time the two met was in the knockout quarter-final, where Pathana edged out a 24–10 win. Expect fireworks in the sequel.
Wesley’s resurgence this season has sparked memories of their golden runs, including the unbeaten B-Division campaign of 2009 and the strong 2017 league turnaround under Denister Goonetillake and Avantha Lee. But this year’s squad seems poised to carve a legacy of its own.
Full-Time: Wesley 43 (7 Tries, 4 Conversions) – Ananda 11 (1 Try, 2 Penalties)
