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| Sunday, 27 June 2004 |
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Wesley beat 41-year-old jinx with 18/13 win over Isipathana by Ranjan Anandappa Wesley College broke a 41-year-old jinx when they beat Isipathana by 18 points (three tries and penalty) to 13 (a goal and two penalties) in an absorbing inter-school rugger encounter played at the Royal College Sports Complex grounds, Reid Avenue yesterday. Last week, Wesley beat S. Thomas' 7/3. Wesley last beat Isipathana in 1963 under Chandimal 'Jardi' de Silva 10-5. It was Wesley's heavy set of forwards that made the major difference as they drove into rucks and mauls to rattle their opponents as Isipathana was in complete disarray particularly in the first half. Wesley scored two tries in rapid succession when winger Niranjan Wickremaratne and Anura Priyashantha crossed the Isipathana line for two unconverted tries. Number 8 Tyronne Harrison scored the third try for the winners and at the stroke of the whistle for 'lemons' Isipathana reduced the gap off a Ashan de Costa try which Manjula Prasad who put over a penalty earlier added the extra points. Wesley led 18-10 at half time. On resumption, Isipathana fought back bravely to keep the Wesleyites off from the scoring line. Isipathana changed their game plan and adopted the punting ahead which drove the Wesleyites back. They were unable to collect a single point in the second half, but Isipathana's Manjula Prasad fired over a penalty to make the final tally of 18-13 in favour of Wesley.Shamrath Fernando refereed. Antonians create upset- beat Royalists 14/13 in tight game by S. M. Jiffrey Abdeen - Kandy Sports Corr In a game of fluctuating fortunes St. Anthony's College, Kandy, with a last minute try pipped Royal College at the post to win by the wafer - thin margin of 14 points (1 try, 1 drop goal, 2 penalties) to 13 (1 goal, 2 penalties) in their Schools Singer trophy rugby tournament match played before a large crowd at the Nittawela Rugby Stadium in Kandy yesterday. At half time Royal led 7-6. It was truly a marvellous win and a fairy tale end to a game which rose to great heights. Royal will have to blame themselves for this defeat as they threw this game away through some indifferent play. In the second half alone they lost ten line outs with the Antonian skipper Imran Bisthamin towering above to win possession along with W. Senarath. The Antonians drew first blood in the 2nd minute of play when fly half Mohammed Royal who had a good put over a penalty to lead 3-0. But Royal wiped out this lead in the 20th minute of play when they won a line out deep inside the Antonian terriroty and Royal skipper and No. 8 Lakshman Dissanayake broke off a maul to send hooker Bimal Herath to score over and full back Shihard Bahudeen added the extra points for Royal to grab the lead 7-6. The Antonian reduced Royal's lead to just a single digit when fly half Mohammed Reyal executed a peach of a drop goal 35 metres out when he spotted the Royal's defence slacking. But after the turn around in the 3rd minute of the second half Antonians regained the lead through a 35 metre penalty fired by fly half Mohammed Royal, for the Saints to lead 9-7. The game fluctuated once again when Royal's full back Shihad Bahudeen put over a 45 metre penalty to give his side the lead. Royal 10-9. In the 25th minute of play an Antonian player was penalised for a dangerous tackle and full back Shihad Bahudeen fired the 40 metre penalty for the Royalists to increase their lead to 13-9. With the game drifting into the final minute of play and the Royalists clinging on to their 13-9 lead, the Saints did the miracle. A penalty was awarded to them mid field and Mohammed Reyal kicked it to touch inside the Royal 122'. From there the Antonians won the line out and No. 8 Imran Bisthamin who had a grand game worked his three quarters for winger Sumal Wijesiri to brush tackles to score by the right corner flag. It did not matter whether the try was goalled or not as the Antonians and wisked through to a win. Orville Fernando refereed. Antonians won the junior game 14-5. |
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