Wesley edge out Thomians to secure runner-up in League

Monday, 11 August 2025 03:05 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Double joy for the Wesley team as they celebrate the Oliver Gunathilaka Shield, beating S. Thomas’, and also emerge as runner-up in the Schools Under-19 Rugby League

By Shamseer Jaleel

In a weekend of pulsating final week of the Dialog Schools Rugby Under-19 League 2025 action, Wesley produced one of their best performances this season to edge past the Thomians at Havelock Park to secure the runner-up position to Trinity in the League this year. The Double Blues also won the Oliver Gunathilaka Shield.

At the short breather, the Thomians led 19/15.

Both teams made a number of handling errors early in the game but once settled, they produced some cohesive rugby and it was a tight, high-scoring game in the end. For the winners, skipper Sandul Gammanpila and fullback Abdul Haadhi had an outstanding game. Meanwhile, for the Thomians, it was McKyle Karunaratne and Mayanka Dias. Though there were a few times the game slipped out of the players’ control from both sides, Referee Jeewaka Fonseka handled it beautifully with swift actions by giving stern warnings and yellow cards when required.