Wesley College stung the reigning league champions to record a moral boosting win in their first outing of their 2013 league campaign.
It was set to be an enthralling encounter with the champions of 2012, out for their first match to defend their title, versus a spirited Wesley College who proved their mettle in the Division B last season to come on over to the big league. The blue camp were the pre-match underdogs although only marginally as they did come to the league being at the helm of their respective segment last season and taking the western province 7’s title for 2013.
The Weslyites set the tone early on and it was one which sounded “life-is-not-going-to-be-easy” to the opposition. The visitors were leading with pace, quick hands, possession and yardage and were clearly giving the green camp a torrid time right from the starting whistle. Their labours bore fruit a few minutes into the game with a penalty being awarded. Out at the 40 meter mark K.R. De Silva took to the task but was not successful leaving the score line undisturbed.
It was only the first quarter of the game with a long way to go and at this point it was the blues who were having the upper hand with good phases, keeping the mistakes to minimum and more importantly keeping possession of the ball. The forwards looked like they were at the “prom” going at the opposition with big hits and ball carries, to go with smiles on their faces even. Isipathana lost a key player in Hastha Udayoga early on to this forward onslaught which left him wobbling off although he can be somewhat satisfied he brought his man down.
The greenmen were defending for their life early on with the Wesley pressure and it was arduous a task as it saw the home team making tackle after tackle after tackle, and yet possession eluded them. Frustratingly for them the blue jerseys’ were also immaculate in turning over any and almost every possession their opposition had.
In the 8th minute this pressure was converted to points, once more brilliant phases and quick hands saw the Wesley winger S.K. Ariyawansa going over in the right corner. A deserved Wesley outfit took the lead 5 nothing with a difficult conversion going astray. The visitors continued with their fiery play with the home team holding fort. The Pathana side was finally able to get on the board with a Hirantha Perera penalty 22 meters out taking the score to 3-5 in favor of Wesley.
Four minutes later just into the second quarter of the game a beautiful solo effort by Isuru Kongahawththa, the Pathana fly half, saw him slice and dice the defense to score coming around under the post with no opposition being able to touch the lad thanks to his scintillating angles. Hirantha Perera had no problems with the conversion Isipathana in the lead for the first time during the game 10-5.
If this was expected to be the turnaround for the green camp to forge ahead it was not to be. In the 26th minute Wesley’s number 8 G.S. Siegertsz ran wide subsequent to, once more, lovely passes by the line scoring to the right of the posts. De Silva was unsuccessful with the conversion scores were tied at 10 all.
Just on the short whistle with the Weslyites putting tremendous pressure at close quarter play, 5 meters away from the goal line, Isipathana’s N. Saldin was sent off with a red card for unruly play and the recipient of the infringement was not too well off having to exit the field of play looking worse for wear.
Play kicked off in the second half with Pathana down to 14 players and their opposition made good use of their numbers and were successful touching down with only minutes into the second half. Having an easier angle to convert from De Silva was on target this time around and the Wesleyites took a healthy lead 17-10.
Hirantha Perera soon had the opportunity to reduce the gap with a penalty from the 22 to the right of the posts but was unable to do the needful, leaving the scores undisturbed. It was to be a busy day for the place kicker of the green camp, and he did give some breathing space for his side as he slotted 2 penalties 5 minutes apart just at the begging of the last quarter of the game successfully reducing the gap to a solitary point, scores 17-16, Wesley ahead by a whisker.
The visitors displayed their proficiency once more with waves of pressure on the Pathanians as they were firing all cylinders to extend their lead. Good forward phases and secure, clean ball being finally worked with deft hands saw the winger Ariyawansa going over again at the right corner flag. Conversion going astray moved the scores along to 22-16 to the dismay of the Isipathana supporters and they were up in arms, knowing the fact that they had to score and convert if they were to get back in the lead.
And score they did in the dying stages of the game, the greenmen finally came good with good ball and phases and a forward rush and coming on top of a close quarter combat situation Omalka Gunaratne went over the line at extreme left. 21-22 with a conversion to come, and had to be successful to take the lead. Hirantha Perera was the man under the gun, absolute extreme left ,30 meters out difficult angle… and right between the uprights he went with just enough juice to take it over as the Pathana fans erupted to a massive cheer. 23-22 Pathana up and minutes to go to the long whistle.
In an anticlimax the game reversed once again, as an infringement by the replacement center for the green camp saw him being sin binned as well as giving the opposition a penalty and if successful the game as well. De Siva did not have the greatest day with the boot, although the penalty was a regulation one smack in from of the posts and he made no mistake held his nerve and took care of business. 25-23 to Wesley and that was what it stood at a few minutes later at the long whistle.
A gutsy bunch of lads the Wesleyites were coming back to the big league and taking the pressure to the opposition, and the reigning league champs at that. The lads put on a clinical performance with the forwards and backs combining brilliantly for the blues and the profits of their training were clearly seen today as a very balanced, well gelled side was their outfit. The ball being moved wide on very safe hands and turnover ball during the breakdown was outstanding.
The Isipathana camp was of course not upto their standard of last season, but they were playing to par. The green camp did have a shaky start last season too and picked up their game considerably and it is certain that they will head back to the drawing boards to make amends to do the same this time around. Regulation errors which plagued the side last season were not an issue this season and the lads were going full throttle and did put on a show no doubt. But as the lights went down on the day the Wesleyites were the more cohesive and brought their A game to the table giving them a deserved win.
