The unbeaten Green machine came up with the goods when it mattered most as they scored two tries in the last five minutes to take the game away from a well-drilled Royal College outfit in their Singer A division league fixture worked off at CR & FC. After a grueling 80- minute battle the scoreboard read 28 (4 Goals) points to 14 (2 Goals) in favour of the Green shirts.
The pre-match hype was all about the battle between Royal’s forwards and the rampant Isipathana backs, and the game lived up to the hype as the Royal ‘eight’ marshalled by their scrum half Ashok Wijeyakumar dominated the opening proceedings camping themselves inside the Isipathana half. However to the home teams’ credit, they defended valiantly thwarting all what Royal came up with including their deadly ‘rolling maul’.
In the 8th minute Isipathana entered their 22 for the first time and managed to draw first blood through their center Sumudu Rankothge who fended off his way through. Full Back Gayan Wickramrathne added the extras (07 – 00)
However from there onwards it was Royal all the way as they dominated the remainder of the first half. Their forwards in particular kept the pressure on their opposition hitting up around rucks and trying their best to force Isipathana to make the mistake that would give them the opportunity to try their rolling maul. But probably for the first time this season they met stiff resistance with their Isipathana counterparts doing everything they can to stop Royal from scoring.
Photo Album – Major Milroy Fernando Trophy
It took almost 20 minutes before they finally managed to score through winger Nikhil Gunadheera who received a pass on the blind side from his scrum half to finish off with a try. Full Back Ovin Askey made a stunning conversion to level the scores (07-07).
Isipathana managed to enter their opposition half after a considerable lapse of time and left with seven points with winger Ranidu Padmasanka going over for a corner flag try. The Isipathana pack kept advancing, putting together a few phases, before the ball was shifted from left to right and Padmasanka finished off the move with aplomb darting to the corner flag. Full back Gayan Wickramarathne made a sublime conversion from an acute angle to give Isipathana the lead again (14-07).
Royal came up with a few threatening moves before the interval but Isipathana continued to held on till the break.
Half Time: Isipathana 14 – Royal 07
After probably having got a load of instructions from their coaching staff, Royal began the first half in dominant style using their bigger forwards to good effect. Unlike the first half, the Royal forwards began to go into contact in the 12,13 channels which started to create openings for their supporting players, but their backs hardly received the ball. The constant tackling and defending of the rolling maul was slowly starting to take its effects as Isipathana, especially their forwards, who were starting to tire. Vageesha Weerasinghe was sent to the sin bin after being warned repeatedly for offside. This was enough as Royal chose their weapon of choice and kicked the ball out to touch of the ensuing penalty.
Fan Album – Major Milroy Fernando Trophy
The deadly rolling maul was opted for again and this time the Royal eight got their act together and after sucking in most of the Isipathana players sent the ball wide and Mahima Gamage crept through the defense to score beside the posts. Askey added the easy extras and Royal were once again level (14-14).
Weerasinghe returned and no further scoring was done during his absence but Isipathana were dealt another blow when their diminutive hooker Hasitha Mapitagama was shown ‘yellow’ for an infringement at the breakdown. Using the ‘man’ advantage Royal kept pressing for a scoring chance but could not penetrate the Isipathana defense.
History – Isipathana – Royal (Major Milroy Fernando Rugby Trophy History)
During this passage of play the reliable Askey missed a fairly decent attempt at goal and after being dominated for almost 30 minutes of in the half, Isipathana struck the killer blow scoring a stunning try through Sumudu Rankothge. The Isipathana backs decided to run from their own half and Rankothge released Chamodh Fernando who drew the last defender to before giving an inside pass back to Rankothge who scored mid left. Wickramarathne converted and Isipathana led 21-14.
The win was sealed right at the end when No.08 Wageesha Weerasinghe was impeded off the ball as he was chasing it in attempt to score. Refferee Dinka Peris awarded a penalty try under the post which Wickramarathne converted with ease to cap off a morale boosting victory and set up mouth-watering a league final showdown next week against the unbeaten Thomians.
ThePapare.com Player of the Match – Devin Gunarathne (Isipathana)
Referee – Dinka Peiris.
Score Breakdown
Isipathana (14) 28
Tries: Sumudu Rankothge (2) Ranidu Padmasanka (1) & 1 Penalty Try
Conversions: Gayan Wickramarathne (4)
Royal : (07) 14
Tries: Nikhil Gunawardana, Mahima Gamage
Conversions: Ovin Askey (2)
 points to 14 (2 Goals) in favour of the Green shirts.){kind=link}