Devin Gunaratne match winner as Isipathana enters final

Indika Welagedara

Sensational flanker Devin Gunaratne scored a match winning try in the dying stages of the game as gallant Isipathana staged a spectacular fight back from 13 nil to down St.Peters in their Milo inter school ‘A’ Division President trophy knock out rugby match by 24 points (4 Tries, 2 Conversions) To 20 ( 2 Tries, 2 Conversions , 2 Penalties) played yesterday at Royal sports Complex grounds at Reid Avenue. The winners were trailing 12-13 at half time.

The match got off to a rousing start where St.Peters shocked everyone present at the grounds when they drew first blood in the 13th minute of the game when fly half Steven Sivaraj intercepted a pass and sprinted nearly 65 meters to score under the post. He himself made the conversion and Peters went in to a 7 nil lead.

Within couple of minuets Sivaraj booted a 30 meter penalty and the Peterites increased their tally to 10 nil.

Peterites went in to a further lead in the 24th minute of play when Sivaraj fired over another difficult 35 meter penalty. Score read 13 nil.

Isipathana opened scoring in the 29th minute of the game off a ruck as their tireless number eight Wageesha Weerasinghe crashed through the Peterites defence to go over for a well earn try. Full back Gayan Hettiarachchi missed the conversion and the score read 13-5 in favour of the Peterites

A few moments later , Isipathana centre three quarter Sumudu Rankothge collected a ball of a three quarter move and scampered through brushing aside several Peterites defenders to score a spectacular try far right. Hettiarachchi this time made the conversion to go in to the half time with St.Peters leading 13 points to Isipathana 12.

After the turn around in the 47th minute of the game their dynamic centre cum captain Sandesh Jayawickrama, who had an impressive game both in attack and defence collected a ball and burst his way over covering nearly 45 meters side stepping many Isipathana defenders to score a sensational try, Sivaraj who had an excellent day with his boot once again made the conversion and the score read 20-12 in St.Peters favour.

In the 58th minute Isipathana closed the gap off a turn over ball centre and captain Kushan Indunil formed the overlap and burst through to touched down for a superb try. Hettiarachchi made the conversion to take the score to Peterite 20 to Pathana 19.

Isipathana virtually sealed the match in their favour in the 75th minute when their Dynamic flanker Devin Gunaratne broke through the blind side off a rolling maul and touched down for a brilliant match winning try near the right corner flag, Wickramaratne missed the difficult conversion and finally Isipathana snatched a brilliant 24 points to 20 victory in the end to play in finals on Saturday the 9th of July.

Referee- Dinka Peiris