Saturday Nov 29, 2025
Saturday Nov 29, 2025
Monday, 18 August 2025 01:28 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}
Joes celebrate victory against S. Thomas’ to win the Lady Jayathilake Shield
Ananda celebrate victory against Vidyartha to win the William Gopallawa Shield
Ananda College produced a spirited performance to edge out Vidyartha College 22/21 in a nail-biting encounter at Rajagiriya on Saturday.
With this victory, Ananda finally laid their hands on the William Gopallawa Shield after a long 11-year wait.
The match was closely fought from the outset, with Vidyartha taking a 14/12 lead at the short breather.
However, Ananda’s determination and never-say-die attitude helped them overturn the deficit in the second half to secure a historic triumph.
The win was not just about reclaiming silverware, but also about restoring pride and belief within the Ananda rugby fraternity after coming back to top League rugby this year.
The Referee was Gihan Yatawara.
At Mount Lavinia, the Joes pulled off a dramatic 40/36 win over the Thomians to retain the Lady Jayathilake Shield.
In another topsy-turvy clash, it was the Thomians who went into the break with a 19/14 lead at the breather, but the Joes rallied strongly in the second half, showing excellent attacking rugby.
The win ensured that the Joes capped off their season in style, carrying momentum into the future while once again holding onto one of the most historic inter-school trophies.
The Joes were coached by Dulanjana Wijesinghe.
The Referee was Raveen Alexander.
