Ranidu Pramod Padmasanka stole the spotlight at the Zahira 7’s 2016 which concluded on Saturday, scoring 4 tries in the finals for Isipathana College against the host team Zahira College, Colombo.
The final match was a piece of cake for the Green Machine as they scored 42 points, which included 8 tries and a conversion. Zahira had no chance to gain a single point even though they went pretty close to the try line. Yet it was a great game of Rugby and also a proud moment for the home team as this was their first appearance in a final in the past 8 years.
Winger Ranidu opened the scoring for the Pathanians in the first few minutes of the game. He scored 2 tries back to back on both corners of the pitch. After scoring on both corners, Ranidu broke through the defense line to score the 3rd under the post. Play maker for Zahira, Nirhan Gunavijaya displayed some outstanding skills with his offloading and the tackles he made. In the meantime Skipper Kushan Indunil, Sumudu Anurada, Ahamed Azmie and Ranidu Pramod scored a try each for Isipathana.
Zahira made their way to the finals beating 3 tough teams. In the group stage they had to face Lalith Athulathmudali and Royal College, Panadura. In the semifinal they beat Combined Schools of Malaysia in what was the toughest match of the tournament. Meanwhile Isipathana College played against Veluwana College and Thurstan College in the group stage and beat Prince of Wales College in the Cup semi-final.
St. Benedicts College knocked down Royal College, Panadura in the Bowl finals by 17 points to 07. In the Plate finals Thurstan College beat Royal College, Colombo by 15 points to 12.
This is Isipathana’s 5th Zahira 7’s trophy. Ranidu Pramod received the Most Outstanding Player of the Tournament award for the 2nd consecutive year.
Bowl Semi-finals: Veluwana Vidyalaya 07 – St. Benedict’s College 27 C.W.W. Kannangara 07 – Royal College, Panadura 15
Plate Semi-finals: Thurstan College 22 – Carey College 05 Royal College, Colombo 15 – Lalith Athulathmudali 12
Cup Semi-finals: Isipathana College 36 – Prince of Wales College 07 Combined schools of Malaysia 14 – Zahira College 20
Bowl Finals- St. Benedicts College 17 – Royal College, Panadura 07
Plate Finals- Thurstan College 15 – Royal College, Colombo 12
Cup Final- Isipathana College 41 – Zahira College 00
