Wesley retain Blaze Trophy for fifth consecutive year

Monday, 20 July 2026 03:16 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Wesley winger Mohamed Fawaz on his way to score

By Shamseer Jaleel

Wesley College continued their impressive run in the L. E. Blaze Trophy encounter series when they cut loose late in the second half to beat Kingswood College 39-24 at the Nittawela Rugby Stadium last weekend.

The annual contest once again lived up to expectations as both teams produced an outstanding brand of rugby with an exciting style of running rugby, entertaining the large crowd with their attacking intent and never-say-die spirit. The scores were locked at 17-all at halftime, setting the stage for a thrilling second half before Wesley’s superior finishing and discipline carried them to victory.

Both sides showed plenty of enterprise from the opening whistle, moving the ball confidently through the backs while their mobile forwards provided a solid platform in both attack and defence. The game was played at a high tempo, with both teams creating scoring opportunities through quick ball movement and strong support play from their forwards and speedy three-quarter lines, though the ground conditions at Nittawela were hard on the lads.

Wesley skipper Kaizer Lye once again led the team admirably, while winger Mohamed Fawaz was another outstanding performer, using his blistering pace and sharp finishing to torment the Kingswood defence as he completed a superb hat-trick. His constant ghosting moves were a nightmare for the Randles Hill boys, who did not have an answer.

The Double Blues’ attacking display saw Fawaz score three tries, while Dinaru Lankendra, Ehran Ali and Prarthana Rodrigo also crossed the whitewash. Lye added two conversions and capped his fine performance with a superbly executed drop goal, while Rodrigo chipped in with another successful conversion.

Kingswood, however, refused to surrender without a fight and matched Wesley for long periods of the game. Captain Sachintha Naweesha produced a heroic individual performance, leading by example and scoring a magnificent hat-trick of tries to keep his side in contention. Menusha Marasinghe added the other Kingswood try, while Shamith Shafraz impressed with his all-round play and accurate goal-kicking, converting two tries.

Although Kingswood showed tremendous character and attacking ambition, Wesley’s experience, composure and ability to capitalise on scoring opportunities proved decisive in the closing stages. The Double Blues tightened their defence after the interval and finished strongly to pull away on the scoreboard.

With this victory, Wesley successfully retained the L. E. Blaze Trophy for a fifth consecutive year, underlining their continued dominance in one of Sri Lanka schools rugby’s traditional fixtures. The win will also provide valuable momentum as they continue their impressive campaign this season.

Referee: Ishanka Abeykoon.