D.S. Senanayake College held off a spirited fightback from St. Anthony’s College to secure a hard-fought 26-19 victory in a thrilling schools rugby encounter played at the Nittawela Rugby Stadium last evening. The match was played for the prestigious Alles Trophy.

The Colombo side took a narrow 12-7 lead at halftime and held their nerve in the second half to finish with four tries and three conversions, edging out the Antonians, who scored three tries and converted two.

Pawan Lihara Steers DS Attack

DS scrum-half Pawan Lihara was a standout performer, orchestrating attacks with quick distribution and dynamic runs, keeping the Antonians under pressure throughout the contest.

The opening half saw both teams exchanging tries in a tightly contested battle. DS capitalized on early possession to break the line twice, while the Antonians responded with a well-structured try of their own before the break.

Second Half: Antonians Fight Back, DS Hold Firm

After the restart, DS extended their lead with two more tries and a pair of conversions, but St. Anthony’s weren’t done yet. They mounted a strong comeback with two second-half tries, keeping the scoreline close and the crowd on edge.

However, resolute defense and disciplined play in the final minutes saw D.S. Senanayake clinch the win and take home the Alles Trophy.