Isipathana prevail in classic

SM Jiffrey Abdeen,Kandy Sports Corr

Isipathana College, put up a superlative performance to come from behind and shear the Lions in their own den by defeating Trinity College by 37 points (two goals, four tries, one penalty) to 22 (two goals, one try, one penalty) in their schools Singer Shield Under-19 rugby tournament match played at the Trinity College rugby stadium, Pallekele yesterday.

At half time, it was the Lions who were in front, leading 15-8.

The Trinitians who were in a position of strength when the teams changed ends could not consolidate as they wilted under the terrific pressure inserted by Pathana.

At least, two tries which was scored by the winners, could have been stopped. If the try scorers were tackled before they gained momentum.

Three five-metre scrums were awarded to the Trinitians in quick succession, could not be converted to points by the losers.

A try scored by the Trinitians was disallowed by the referee when the touch judge D Nimal pointed out that there was a knock forward.

All these, with poor loose play, contributed to the Lions’ dismal performance.

Pathana on the other hand, specially in the second half,displayed plenty of speed and also had possession to rout their opponents.

The game started off, with Trinity drawing first blood through a penalty fired over by fullback Saranga Gunatilleke. But minutes later, Isipathana equalized through a penalty, put over by stand-off Isuru Kongahawatte.

But the Trinitians, were back in the lead, when winger Dange scored far left and Saranga Gunatilleke failed to add the extra points.

But this lead was short-lived as Isipathana skipper Omalka Gunaratne pounded his way to score far left for an uncoverted try.

Six minutes before the short break, the Trinitians once again took over the lead when fullback Saranga Gunatilleke kicked deep and followed up to score under the posts and added the extra points himself. The second half, turned out to be a total disaster for the Lions as they conceded as many as 29 points while scoring only seven. In the second half, the Pathans, ran amok in the last 30 minutes, scoring tries through Sachin Dilshan, Sachintha Alawathugoda, Nisal Desara and S Weerasinghe.

Isuru Kongahawatte goalled two of the tries. For Trinity College, winger Sachintha Dissanayake scored a try and Saranga Gunatilleke added the extra points.

Dinka Peiris refereed.