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)
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