Reigning league champions Isipathana College went through some anxious moments before pulling off a 41 points to 21 victory over S.Thomas’ College, Mt.Lavinia in their Singer schools rugby league round fixture worked off at Havelock Park. The winners collected their points from 3 goals and 4 tries while the visitors accumulated their points from 3 converted tries.
The teams took to the field amid wet underfoot conditions due to the slight drizzle that persisted almost throughout the game. Randy Silva kicked off the day’s proceedings with his team attacking the club house end. Isipathana looked threatening early on with their backs creating overlaps aplenty during the early minutes of the game but poor ball handling deprived them of an early score. Having survived the early Green wav, the tide changed directions and S.Thomas’ using their bigger made players started to dictate the terms of the match. The Thomians had the opportunity of drawing first blood in the 15th minute but full back Dion Dias was off target with a relatively easy 22 meter penalty. Five minutes later it was the Isipathanians who finally managed to hold on to their passes as the ball was worked through their line that saw winger Ramitha Himash dive over the whitewash. Chamodh Fernando’s conversion attempt failed to materialize (IC 05 – STC 00).
S.Thomas’ however were quick to respond coming up with a try of their own. Skipper Naveen Henakankanamage found space out wide but was brought down a few meters short of the try line. The visitors managed to retain possession and after few pick and goes from close range scored their 1st try through prop Adeesha Hadunpathirana. Dion Dias added the extras to hand his team the lead. (IC 05 – STC 07).
[rev_slider dfccrugby728]
The hosts started to pile on the pressure and in the 31st minute succeeded in breaching the opposition defence yet again with Randy Silva cutting through the Thomian defensive line to score beside the posts. Chamodh Fernando added the easy extras as Isipathana regained the lead. They dealt another blow just before the break when Randy Silva scored yet again. Randy made a neat drubber kick across the field from his own 22 which was chased down well and collected by winger Nadeesh Chaminda who passed inside back to his skipper Sumudu Rankothge. It took two Thomian defenders to stop him. Rankothge however kept the play alive throwing out and inside pass to Randy Silva who came in support and added the finishing touches. Chamodh added the extras to hand his team a 12 point lead going into the half time break.
HALF TIME: ISIPATHANA 19 – S.THOMAS’ 07
S.Thomas’ certainly didn’t have the best of starts in the 2nd half as they conceded and early try in the 41st minute. Hard running second rower Sudeera Dissanayake broke through the Thomian defences off the blind side before cutting inside and touching down mid left for an unconverted try. Despite the early blow the Thomians managed to control the pace of the game to their liking and after battering through the Isipathana defence utilizing their heavier set of forwards, reduced the deficit through their hooker Aabid Caader who barged his way from close range. Dion Dias added the extra two points to halve the Isipathana lead. (IC 24 – STC 14).
The Thomians only made life difficult for themselves making numerous handling errors that eventually loosened the grip on their opponents. And that was all that the hosts needed as Isipathana once again worked the ball through the dangerous backs and some good off- loading skills and neat hands saw the ball go to the hands of their young winger Ramitha Himash who dived over for his 2nd try of the game. Chamodh’s conversion attempt never looked on target since it left his boot but Isipathana managed to distant themselves from their opponents. Just before the hour mark Thomian skipper Naveen Henakanamge followed up a box kick by his scrum half before collecting the ball cleanly and sprinting under the posts for a breath-taking try. .Dion Dias put over the easy extras as the Thomians cut the deficit to just 8 points. (IC 29 – STC 21).
With more than 20 minutes of play remaining S.Thomas’ knew they had a chance of creating an upset but Isipathana to their credit kept things under control. The Pathanians closed off the game during the final 10 minutes through full back Chamodh Fernando and second rower Ravindu Anjula. Fernando was the first to score having gone to ground close to the try line picking himself up and falling over the try line in the 72nd minute. Five minutes from time, second rower Ravindu Anjula added the icing on the cake going over for an under the post try. Fernando put over the extras and that was enough for Isipathana to see out the game. (IC 41 – STC 21).
FULL TIME: ISIPATHANA 41 – S.THOMAS’ 21
“We wanted to win this game with the bonus point and we have achieved that. However I am not satisfied with some aspects in our performance. We can and we need to do better. We will now focus and plan for our next game against Trinity” – Isipathana Coach Lasintha De Costa
ThePapare.com player of the match – Randy Silva
Referee – Rohan Fernando
Score break down
Isipathana 41 (19)
Tries: Randy Silva (2) , Ramitha Himash (2) , Sudeera Gayanath, Ravindu Anjula, Chamodh Fernando
Conversions: Chamodh Fernando (3)S.Thomas’ 21 (07)
Tries: Adeesha Handunpathirana, Aabid Cader, Naveen Henakankanamge
Conversions: Dion Dias (3)
