Zahira stun DSS -15/13

Zahira College produced a splendid second half rally to beat favourites D. S. Senanayake College 15-13 in a thrilling Inter-Schools Under-19 President’s Trophy Knock-Out Rugby Tournament quarter-final fixture played at Havelock Park yesterday.

Zahira were trailing 7-8 at half time but they dominated the second half and fired a last-minute penalty to turn the game in their favour and to book a semi-final spot against the defending champions Isipathana College next week.

The Zahirians also won the R. I. T. Alless Memorial Trophy as they collected their points from one goal, one try and one penalty while D. S. Senanayake responded with two tries and one penalty.

Zahira were trailing 7-13 as they went into the last 10 minutes of play under pressure, but they managed to dominate the proceedings through some excellent work from their forwards and three quarters.

Full back Ahmed Saad came into the limelight with a 64th minute try near the corner flag as he added the finishing touches to a superb three-quarter move while forming the overlap.

He missed the conversion from a difficult angle and Zahira had reduced the margin to a solitary point (12-13) at that stage.

Zahira kept playing inside the D. S. Senanayake territory for a longer period with a good passage of play as Saad missed out a near 50-metre penalty.

However, D. S. Senanayake knocked-on while collecting the ball and conceded a penalty almost under the post and Saad responded by putting over the penalty to give Zahira a famous victory.

Earlier, D. S. Senanayake took the lead in the 12th minute with a 25-metre penalty from Shehada Umagiliyage but almost immediately they suffered a massive blow when Pathum Peiris was handed a red-card for foul play.

Zahira took advantage from this situation and went on to score their first try with Skipper Aadil Rafeek going over the whitewash from a rolling maul giving Saad an easy conversion.

D. S. Senanayake hit back moments before the half time as their replacement scrum half Nadil Paranamanna crashed through to score their first try and centre Menura Perera touched down for their second try midway in the second half to increase the lead 13-7.

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