Isipathana college went through some anxious moments before eventually emerging victorious by 17 points to 07 against Zahira College, Colombo in their Singer A division schools rugby league encounter worked off at Maradana this evening.
The weather conditions seemed perfect for a game of rugby while the atmosphere around the ground was buzzing with a packed crowd in attendance. Isipathana did not get off to the perfect start they would have hoped for, with Fly Half Anjana Kulasekara’s kick not getting passed the 10 meter mark. Zahira receiving possession tried to power their way through the Isipathana defence but the Pathanians were up to the task, not giving their opponents any chance of moving forward. Having sustained the initial wave of attack from the hosts. Isipathana opened the scoring in the 7th minute through winger Ramitha De Silva. The Isipathana threes’ were set in motion off a scrum and De Silva added the finishing touches to a sweeping back division move to score under the posts. Manilka Rubeyru who had taken over the kicking duties put over the easy conversion. (ZC 00 – IC 07)
Isipathana kept on attacking but poor decision making cost them making any headway while the usual ball handling skills they are much famed for were not to be seen. Zahira too on the other hand just couldn’t get out of jail and were trapped inside their own half. This gave Isipathana the chance of extending their lead as Manilka Rubeyru slotted in and easy 22 meter penalty in the 18th minute. (ZC 00 – IC 10)
The game was full of stops and starts due to the mistakes from both sides and amidst all this, the Zahirians had a golden opportunity to cut back the deficit in the final moments in the first half but winger S. Farhan was bundled out to touch by an Isiapthana defender just meters out from the try line. With that move coming to a halt the teams went into the halftime break.
Half-time: Zahira 0 – Isipathana 10
The resumption saw not much of a change in the playing pattern of both the teams with Isipathana dominating territory while it was a ding-dong battle for possession as neither team kept the ball long enough to fashion out a clear-cut scoring opportunity. Isipathana, in particular, threw away many opportunities that came their way even though they virtually parked themselves inside the opposition half. It took them until the 60th minute to get the scoreboard moving and once again it was Winger Ramitha De Silva who crossed over the whitewash near the right corner flag. Manilka Rubeyru added the extras with a fine conversion attempt which also gave them a cushion on the scoreboard despite looking the better team for almost the entire game (ZC 00 – IC 17)
However with less than three minutes of regulation time left, Zahira College did change the mood of the ground when they managed to score an under the post try through Center Sharik Usuph. A careless handling error by Isipathana’s Fly half Anjana Kulasekara gave Zahira a rare opportunity of bringing play into the opposition 22’ and when they received a penalty 5 meters out from the try line Usuph opted for the quick tap and barged his way through for a try. Center S. Minhaj added the easy extras and the Zahirians backed up by their crowd believed they could get something out of the game in which they were outplayed up until that moment. However, it was not to be as Isipathana held on with little fuss to record their 3rd consecutive win albeit being far from convincing.
Full Time: Zahira College 7 (1T 1C) – Isipathana 17 (2T 2C 1P)
ThePapare.com’s Player of the Match: Ramitha De Silva (Isipathana)
- Match Referee: H.P Weranga
Breakdown
Zahira College tries scored by Sharik Usuph (1), Conversion by Minhaj Samsudeen(1)
Isipathana College Tries scored by Ramitha De Silva (2), Conversions by Manilka Rubeyru (2), Penalty by Manilka Rubeyru (1)
