Isipathana Reign undisputed!

Dialog Schools Rugby Knockout tournament 2022

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Isipathana Reign undisputed

Isipathana College ended the 2022 XV’s season, undefeated, beating St. Joseph’s College convincingly, 49-22 to secure the Presidents Trophy Knockout Championship, extending their unbeaten run to 10-games.

Progression through to the final

The big guns cruised through the Quarter-finals as Isipathana defeated Dharmaraja and S. Thomas’ defeated Vidyartha to set up a semi-final between the two winners.

St. Joseph’s College made easy work of St. Anthony’s College for the second time this season, as Wesley got over the line in comfortable fashion against Science College, setting up the second Semi-final between the two winners.

Isipathana College wasn’t put under any serious pressure in the 1st Semi-final as S. Thomas’ failed to show up, putting an end to their XV’s season.

On the other hand, St. Joseph’s College was made to put in an extra shift by Wesley as the Les-Blue scored after the hooter, missing the conversion, to take the game into extra time. The Josephians, however, prevailed with a penalty off the boot of Ruchitha Rodrigo to secure their place in the final.

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The Grand Finale

Isipathana College ran riot at the Royal Complex, perplexing the on-lookers and stunning the Josephian faithful.

Pathana lead a whopping 27-nil as the St. Joseph’s College team didn’t turn up.

The second half, though, was a whole different ball game as the Josephians came out with vigor, cutting the deficit to just 8-point at the 50-minute mark.

Isipathana, however, the masters of disguise, picked the Josephian pocket, pouncing on a mistake, burning them to the floor with time remaining.

The Pathana boys as dismissed the Josephian outfit with ease.

As predicted, It would’ve been close if St. Joseph’s took their chances, but in the end, a game of if’s went to a landslide victory for the much superior Pathanians.

Full Time: Isipathana College 49 (7T,4C,2P) beat St. Joseph’s College 22(3T,2C,1P)

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Soorya Dodangoda was the man for Isipathana, winning the NDB Player of the game award, while the Pathana backline bought about the Razzle-Dazzle, aw-ing the on-lookers

There were sparks of brilliance by the Josephians, however, lacking consistency cost them, even though Skipper Teran and Naveen tried to make a game out of it, but the Greem Machine was a Hulk in itself.