Another interesting clash of the Dialog Schools Rugby League 2026 between traditional heavyweights Isipathana College and St. Anthony’s College was staged in electrifying fashion at Hevelock Park today (26th). In a highly charged encounter where traditional heavyweights fought for supremacy, Isipathana College dismantled a formidable St. Anthony’s College, Kandy side, posting a statement 43-14 victory.
From the first whistle, it was evident that the Kandy outfit had not travelled to the capital simply to make up the numbers. St. Anthony capitalised on the early kicking mistake by the hosts and kept hitting with the Isipathana defence line through their powerful forwards. During the course, the visitors received an offside penalty, and they opted for a five-metre tap-out. After a few phases, second rower Dinuka Jasundara maintained a low body position and charged over the whitewash to score the first try of the game. Daham Perera nailed a brilliant conversion from the far left side to add the extras. (Isipathana 00 – 07 SAC)
After the initial shock, the Green Machine looked more settled as the game progressed. Suddenly the skipper Shaakib Zumri received a kick from the visitors and initiated a counter-attack by sending the ball wide. The blindside winger Tharuka Jayaweera made a break from the left corner and sprinted along the touchline and cut back inside by avoiding four tackles. The speedster had the pace to beat the visitors and to score the first try for Isipathana during this year’s rugby league. Nimantha Sandeepa made no mistake with the easy conversion attempt and squared the game. (Isipathana 07 – 07 SAC)
Then the visitors made an awful clearance kick, which offered Isipathana a lineout inside their red zone. Then Isipathana forward united and kept moving forward through a fierce rolling maul. St. Anthony’s College wasn’t able to absorb the immense pressure, and they reacted by collapsing the maul. After receiving the penalty, the host again attacked with a driving maul, and this time St. Anthony’s forwards went helpless as Isipathana forwards powered their way to another try, courtesy of Kaveen Jayasinghe. (Isipathana 12 – 07 SAC)
After a silence in terms of points, the Men in Green once again ambushed into the Antoinian’s territory. After winning a solid lineout right on the opposition’s 22-metre line, Isipathana’s three-quarters displayed their grit through a magnificent move with good handling skills to almost reach the try line from the left corner. After forming the ruck, Isipathana vigilantly used the blind side as the fullback Nimantha, who supported the winger, went through from the left corner and again cut back inside to score the third try. Sahan Ansari made a successful conversion, which came from a friendly angle. (Isipathana 19 – 07 SAC)
During the final minute, Antonians displayed a spirited effort and almost had another try but were unlucky as it was judged as a held-up as the referee wasn’t satisfied about the grounding.
Half Time: Isipathana College – 19 (3 T, 2 C) – St. Anthony’s College 07 (1T, 1C)
The second half started with a scrum as Pathana chasers knocked on the ball after a high-hanging kick. Later, the visitors were penalised for failure to release the tackled player. Then the Green Machine advanced from a rolling maul, but the Antonians were able to stop the maul somehow. Then the powerful front rower, Newitha Mewnaka, attacked with a lower body position and dragged a few defenders and went over the try line to secure the try bonus. Nimantha surprisingly missed a regulation conversion attempt. (Isipathana 24 – 07 SAC)
The visitors counter-attacked immediately as they advanced deep into the territory of the hosts. Their fine play was rewarded when they received a penalty as Isipathana flankers left the scrum early. After creating a lineout, Antonians attacked with a pick-and-drive passage. After a few phases, Dinuka Jasundara brought his team back in the contest by pushing the opponents into the in-goal area with his pure power. The reliable placekicker, Daham Perera, nailed a peach of a conversion to cut the deficit to 10 points. (Isipathana 24 – 14 SAC)
But the Green Machine were unstoppable, and they were not ready to give their rivals a chance to get back into the game. They executed a highly technical play to attack deep into the Antonians’ territory. After receiving a penalty for a high tackle, the trusted boot of Nimantha earned them a five-metre lineout throw. Then the things went from bad to worse for the visitors as the flanker Jushua Gunawardhana was sin-binned for a dangerous play during the lineout. It was followed by another lineout, and Newitha Mewnaka scored his second after bulldozing the Antonian defence by displaying the pure power of Pathana forwards. (Isipathana 29 – 14 SAC)
The discipline of Antonians once again was questioned, and they were reduced to 13 men when Risindu Bandara was also sin-binned for a high tackle. Later, Isipathana put tremendous pressure on Antonians, and they received a five-metre scrum. The skipper Shaakib Zumri tried to cross the whitewash through a no. 08 break, but the visitors did well to catch up to him. He offloaded the ball to the replacement scrum-half Shewan Yanush, who cut back inside with a fine angle to score a magnificent try. This time Nimantha made no mistake with the conversion. (Isipathana 36 – 14 SAC)
Even during the final minutes of the encounter, high-riding Isipathana never allowed their rivals to give breathing space and continued their attacking flair. The strong flanker, Sanija Jayaweera, who kept the Isipathana defence line like a wall, decided to display his running skills and made a break right before the centre mark with a show-and-go technique. Then he ran over 50 metres by even beating the three-quarters to score a spectacular try under the crossbar. Nimantha was good with the conversion again. (Isipathana 43 – 14 SAC)
This opening week fixture was much more than just a win; it was a monumental statement of intent from Isipathana College. By erasing an early deficit to win by a staggering 29-point margin, they have loudly proclaimed their grit, tactical maturity, and sheer striking power to every other title contender in the league.
Full Time: Isipathana College – 43 (7 T, 4 C) – St. Anthony’s College 14 (2T, 2C)
- Swisstek Perfect Player of the Match: Sanija Jayaweera (Isipathana College)
Points Breakdown
Isipathana College, Colombo – 43
Tharuka Jayaweera 1T, Kaveen Jayasinghe 1T, Newitha Mewnaka 2T, Sanija Jayaweera 1T, Shewan Yanush 1T, Nimantha Sandeepa 1T, 3C, Sahan Ansari 1C
St. Anthony’s College, Katugastota – 14
Dinuka Jasundara 2T, Daham Perera 2C,
Match Referee – Raveen Alexander
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