The much-awaited final of the six-week-long Inter-University Rugby XV’s Championship unfolded between the University of Sri Jayewardenepura and the University of Colombo, under the muddy surface of Nittawela Rugby Fortress. After a clinical display, the defending champions, Colombo, out-muscled the runners-up of the previous edition, Ja’pura, and retained the coveted trophy for yet another year.
The University of Sri Jayewardenepura started off well and applied early pressure on the titleholders. As a result, a Colombo lad was penalised for a high tackle, and without any doubt, Ja’pura went for points straightaway. The reliable place kicker of Ja’pura nailed the regulation chance of the penalty kick to acquire the lead. (UoC 00-03 USJP)
After receiving the ball at the restart, Ja’pura marched into Colombo’s half and launched a fierce attack. Then Bhashana Wijesinghe made a fine intercept inside their own 22-meter line and advanced to the opposition’s 22-meter area before the chasers brought him down. After employing a pick-and-go strategy near the try line, Colombo went to the score sheet with their maiden try. The player who triggered the try, Bhashana, nailed the regulation conversion kick. (UoC 07-03 USJP)
In the next passage of play, Ja’pura was penalised for using hands in the ruck. Then Colombo made good yardage with a well-executed maul, but finally it was brought down to the ground legally. Colombo continuously applied pressure on Ja’pura, and the mistakes mounted, and finally the Dutch referee reduced Ja’pura to fourteen men with a sin bin. After a 5-meter scrummage, Colombo’s scrum-half vigilantly picked the ball out of the scrum and dived over the whitewash to score their second. Bhashana Wijesinghe was good with the conversion again. (UoC 14-03 USJP)
With that momentum, Colombo came closer to the try line again; their forwards kept asking questions from their rivals. Finally Colombo earned a five-meter scrum with their throwing, and very similar to the previous try, Colombo pushed the scrum towards the try line and scored their third. Bhashana was exceptional under the unfavourable conditions and nailed his third conversion of the game. (UoC 21-03 USJP)
At the brink of the Half Time, Ja’pura tried hard to counterattack. After some good passage of play, Ja’pura crossed the whitewash, but the Referee decided that there wasn’t a clear ball grounding.
Half Time: University of Sri Jayewardenepura 21 (3 T, 3 C) – University of Colombo 03 (1 P)
In the second half, the Ja’pura brigade with red shirts had a good passage of play with the aim of a resurgence in the second half. Their determined play was rewarded as they got a 5-meter lineout throw following an offside penalty. Again Colombo was penalised for offside play, and after taking a quick tap, Ja’pura scored their first try by pushing the defenders who were at the guard of the try line. (UoC 21-08 USJP)
The lads from the University of Colombo never let the game slip out of their hands, and they counterattacked brilliantly. In the meantime Colombo was faced with a couple of ill-disciplined plays by Ja’pura. Then Colombo had a 5-meter lineout throw, and subsequently a well-executed maul was formed. With the help of that play, the forwards gave Colombo a much-needed try to diminish the Ja’pura’s chances of winning. Bhashana nailed the conversion with a flat kick that went just above the crossbar. (UoC 28-08 USJP)
Even the USJP players never displayed any intention to retreat in the game and started a counterattack without wasting any time. Surprisingly, they worked the ball from left to right and right to left with side-stepping, which is a very rare scene under a muddy surface like in Nittawela. After a dazzling attack, the Ja’pura Hooker crossed the whitewash to score their second. Further, the Referee sin-binned a Colombo player, giving some fresh hope to the Jayawardhanapura brigade. Their placekicker added another two points to their tally to cut the deficit. (UoC 28 – 15 USJP)
Then a Ja’pura player was also yellow carded, and Colombo advanced towards the try line. After an action-packed play, Colombo earned a scrum inside the opposition’s 22-meter area. Then No. 08 did well to break from the scrum and planted the final try of the game by dragging the opposition winger. Unluckily, the conversion kick hit on the upward bar. (UoC 33 – 15 USJP)
Until Full Time, the scores remained the same, and the formidable Colombo side outclassed the spirited Ja’pura brigade to defend the coveted Interuniversity Rugby Crown one more time.
Full Time: University of Sri Jayewardenepura 33 (5 T, 4 C) – University of Colombo 15 ( 2 T, 1 C, 1 P)
