Title chasing Isipathana overpowers Royal 28-14

Title-chasing Isipathana College dished out a superb brand of running rugby to beat a fighting Royal College unit by 28 points (4 tries, 4 conversions) to 14 (2 tries, 2 conversions) in their Singer inter-school ‘A’ Division league rugby tournament second round match played at CR & FC grounds, Longden Place yesterday. The winners led 14-7 at half time. The match got off to a rousing start with both teams battling it out for supremacy where Pathana drew first blood in the 12th minute off a three quarter move by their vice-captain cum centre Sumudu Rankothge who dummied his way over and went through the entire Royal three quarterline covering nearly 40 metres to touch down for a brilliant try near the left corner flag. Full back Gayan Wickramaratne made a superb conversion and Pathana went into a 7-nil lead.

In the 26th minute off a rolling maul Royal vice-captain and scrum half Ashoke Wijeykumar broke from the base of the scrum and scampered past several Pathana defenders and when challenged sent his winger Nikhil George who formed the overlap and burst through down the left corner flank to touch down for a superb try. Full back Ovin Askey made the conversion and the scores were deadlocked at 7-all.

Soon after in the 34th minute of play off a beautiful three quarter move Isipathana worked their line where the ball changed several hands from fly half Randy Silva to captain cum centre three quarter Kushan Indunil on to speedy winger Ranindu Padmasanka, who collected the ball and darted across the field brushing aside several Royal defenders to score a spectacular try near the right corner flag. Wickramaratne once again made a fabulous touch line conversion and Pathana went into a 14-7 lead at half time.

Soon after resumption Royal drew level off a three quarter move as their scrum half Wijeykumar sent out a long pass to winger Mahima Gamage who sliced through the Isipathana defence to score near the right upright Askey made the simple conversion and the score read 14-all. In the 67th minute Royal were awarded a 35-metre penalty and reliable Askey missed the kick to the utter dismay of all Royal supporters. After several minutes in the 73rd minute of play Isipathana took the lead again, off a scrum, when scrum half Harith Bandara set his three quarter line in motion from their own 22-metre line where the speedy winger Chamod Fernando collected the ball and burst through covering nearly 50 metres drawing Royal full back Askey and gave a fantastic off load to his vice captain and centre Rankothge who made the overlap beautifully and touched down for a try mid right. Wickramaratne made the difficult conversion for Isipathana to lead 21-14.

Isipathana virtually sealed the match in the 78th minute when referee Dinka Peiris awarded a penalty try for Pathana against Royal winger Mahima Gamage for pushing and bringing down Isipathana’s dynamic number eight Wageesha Weerasinghe, who was chasing the ball to touch down for a certain try in the goal area after he had booted the ball. Wickramaratne who had a spectacular day with his boot made the simple under the post conversion once more to take Isipathana to a fascinating win.

Referee- Dinka Peiris -(WAI)