Wednesday May 20, 2026
Wednesday May 20, 2026
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SL winger Diluksha Dange held by two NZ players
NZ player held by Sri Lanka skipper Tharindu Chathuranga, Lahiru Thilakaratne and Omalka Gunaratne
by Shamseer Jaleel
New Zealand held their nerves to secure a hard-fought 25/10 victory over Sri Lanka in their Under-85kg rugby encounter at the Nittawela Rugby Stadium last evening, in front of a packed and vocal crowd.
Despite the scoreline, the hosts delivered a spirited performance that kept the contest alive until the closing stages.
With this result, the visitors sealed the two-match series of the Sir Graham Henry Trophy, having earlier claimed a 27/16 win. Their 52/26 aggregate triumph underlined consistency, but the numbers hardly reflect the resistance put up by the Sri Lankans.
Sri Lanka exploded out of the blocks in electrifying fashion. Relentless early pressure inside the New Zealand 22 forced the visitors onto the back foot, and in just the second minute, the referee awarded a penalty try. The home side surged into a 7-0 lead, igniting the stands and setting the tone for a fiery opening spell.
However, New Zealand responded with composure befitting a seasoned outfit. Lock Jack Laity powered over following sustained forward phases, and skipper Jarred Percival coolly added the extras to level proceedings. From there, momentum began to tilt as the visitors tightened their grip on possession and territory.
Sri Lanka will look back at the first half with a sense of frustration. Twice they came agonisingly close to crossing the whitewash, only to be undone by handling errors and questionable decision-making. On one promising attack, they persisted with forward drives despite space out wide, allowing the New Zealand defence to snuff out a certain try-scoring opportunity.
Sensing their chance, New Zealand capitalised with clinical precision. Percival stepped up to slot two well-struck penalties, nudging his side into a slender 13-7 lead at halftime. It was a period where discipline and execution separated the two teams.
The second half followed a similar pattern. Sri Lanka showed enterprise and heart but struggled to convert pressure into points. In contrast, New Zealand’s attacking structure looked sharper, with Josh Evans and Francis Morrison both crossing the line. Pieter Swarts added a conversion, while Thenuka Nanayakkara’s penalty was the only addition to Sri Lanka’s tally.
Despite the defeat, several Sri Lankan players stood out for their commitment and intensity. Mursheed Doray, Akash Madushanka, Naveen Marasinghe, Omalka Gunarathne, and Kavindu de Costa led the charge with admirable grit. For New Zealand, No. 8 Sunia Vosikata, Jackson Ephraims, and try-scorer Morrison were influential figures.
Referee Morgan White kept firm control of a fast-paced encounter that showed both physicality and flair.
