Ananda in smashing win over Vidyartha

B y Hafiz Marikar

Ananda scored a fine win over Vidyartha by 36 points to 15 in their 1st leg of the William Gopallawa Shield rugby match played at Nittawela grounds last evening in front of a massive gathering. At half time the scoreboard read 15 all. Ananda played with determination and indulge in a superb team effort but had to fight hard for the win and it was in the last fifteen minutes, that the Anandians really played well to collect the points. Both teams went all out for victory and. And most of their Vidyartha fans were disappointed the way their side played in the last quarter.

The winners were at their best and out played the losers, due to excellent team work. The winning teams forwards played the game at their best got involved in every thing what the winner did. It was their dynamic forwards, who made the break, the winners dictating terms made some superb breaks and handled the ball in the way it should be. They used their superiority play, binding much tighter and lower and had the ball often and their backs too ran and passed the ball well.

The losing teams third row also excelled and made some splendid breaks when ever they got the ball what they got, their backs too cleverly sold few dummies, but failed to capitalize on the good ball they received.

The losers played a superb brand of rugby which would have surely warmed the hearts of their supporters that was only till the last fifteen minutes of the game.

It was fast open rugby, both teams ever ready to fling the ball about, the winning players who were marked superiority over the opponents. And also the winners in every part of the department outplayed the counterparts now and then.

For the winning team S .Gamage scored twice, and one try each from S. Nizam, V. Ishara, S. Ranaweera and S Gamage did the kicking . Fo Vidyartha it was M. Izad, A. Aluthgamage scored the tries and I Lakmal was the man who put the kicks.

Referee Deepal Punyawardene.