The 6th game of the Dialog Schools Rugby League 2023 took place today at the Bogambara Stadium as Isipathana College began their title defence with a solid 32-08 win against the home team Kingswood College amidst wet and slippery conditions.
With the wet conditions playing a part, Isipathana looked to use the rolling maul from their very first line-out. Unfortunately for Kingswood, the Pathana rolling maul was too much for them to handle as a rolling maul from the 22m line of the hosts was all that the Green Machine needed, charging towards the whitewash where Chamath Iroshan managed to touchdown for the first try. Rinesh Silva missed the conversion and failed to add the extra points (IC 05 – 00 KCK)
10 minutes later Isipathana Prop Hasindu Fernando managed to burst through the Kingswood defence and take 3 defenders with him to create a gap which skipper Naveen Kanishka pounced on with a little show and go reminiscent of his try from the league decider last year. Silva kicked a straightforward conversion to add the 2 extra points (IC 12-00 KCK)
The Green Machine continued to attack and advance towards Kingswood territory and the hosts conceded a penalty after their line was called for offside. Isipathana skipper opted to extend their lead with the penalty and Silva slotted it through. (IC 15 – 00 KCK)
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A few minutes later Isipathana skipper Kanishka managed to bring his team back inside Kingswood’s 22m territory with a thumping kick from their half. Isipathana then once again went for the rolling maul and came ever so close to the try line before Kingswood conceded another penalty. They took the quick tap this time and the Isipathana hooker who took the ball out for the 2nd phase powered his way through the home defence to score the try. Silva failed to convert this as well and for the rest of the half both teams couldn’t score any more points (IC 20 – 00 KCK)
Half Time – Isipathana 20 – 00 Kingswood
At the beginning of the 2nd half, Isipathana didn’t show the same control they had during the first 35 minutes. Kingswood, who made use of this, finally scored a try when Tharindu Ishara crossed the whitewash from the right corner. This was set up thanks to a 5m line-out which Kingswood won and a terrific pass from Ishan Inoon to the try scorer. Inoon, unfortunately, missed the conversion as the deficit for the home team remained 15 (IC 20 – 05 KCK)
Kingswood had their moments to hit back after the first try but Isipathana found their footing once again in the 2nd half when their star player from the sevens arena Shaahid Zumri showed his stature in the 15-a-side game with a nippy run, evading multiple Kingswood defenders. He tried to kick and chase following the strong run but got tackled after he kicked the ball which was a clear foul. But the referee didn’t have to signal for the penalty as the Isipathana College flanker Iroshan, who scored the first try of the day, kept chasing the ball and outran the Kingswood defender to touchdown for the fourth try and give his team the bonus point. Silva then connected a powerful kick from the left corner to add the 2 extra points and extend their lead (IC 27 – 05 KCK)
Photos – Kingswood College vs Isipathana College | Dialog Schools Rugby League – 2023
Following a turnover ball Isipathana tried to work their line and opted for the kick and chase once again. Zumri and Kalindu Shenal worked in tandem to take Isipathana towards the whitewash and Zumri managed to give Isipathana their fifth and final try of the day with a brilliant chase. Silva couldn’t convert. (IC 32 – 05 KCK)
Coming into the final 10 minutes Kingswood received a penalty after an Isipathana player made the infringement of tackling an opposition player without the ball. Imanka Ishara added the 3 points for his team and that was the final score of the game (IC 32 – 08 KCK)
The defending champions were clinical in their first game and produced a solid performance. But they do have some areas to improve in the coming games. For Kingswood, rather than depending on individual brilliance, they will have to focus more on playing as a single unit with good communication. Fernando, the prop from Isipathana was adjudged NDB Player of the Match for his powerful runs troubling the Kingswood defense in wet conditions.
Full Time : Isipathana College 32 (5T 2C 1P) beat Kingswood College 08 (1T 1P)
NDB Player of the Match : Hasindu Fernando (IC)
Points Breakdown :
Isipathana College : Chamath Iroshan 2T, Naveen Kanishka 1T, Rinesh Silva 2C,1P, Kenula Mihisara 1T, Shaahid Zumri 1T,
Kingswood College : Tharindu Ishara 1T, Imanka Ishara 1P
