Isipathana College who worked as a team put on a magnificent display of rugby to make their entry to the finals of the Milo President’s knockouts when they defeated Trinity College 28-37 at the Royal Sports Complex a short while ago.
It was an overall team performance from the Green Machine with their three quarters and the props working together as a single unit to bring victory home. Cardinal errors seemed to be Trinity’s worry even in the penultimate games of the 2015 year and proved to be one of the key factors for their loss this evening. The game which stood even-stevens at one point drifted-off the Isipathana way with them plaguing the boys from Kandy with two back to back tries prohibiting them of any further glories.
The game started off with the prolific Isipathana fly half starting off matters in style with a 22 meter penalty. Trinity replied strongly to Kongahawatte’s kick as Ryan Weerakoon collected the chip off Anuka Boyagoda to score Trinity’s first for the day. Despite Wijesuriya kicking to no-man’s land, Trinity had a breathable two point lead. (5-3)
The mere two point lead was short lived as the hefty Isipathana forwards got down to business taking play into their attacking 10 meter soon after the restart. With the ball swindling through to the three quarters, quick thinking by Rehan Silva got Isipathana off the edge when he stepped inward through the Trinity defense to score (8-5). Kongahawatte missed out on the conversion.
Infringements by the Isipathana players allowed Sanushka Abeywickrema to kick two back to back penalties to take the lead for the first time in the game but Isipathana’s urge for glory was a force which could not be stopped by the Trinitians (11-8).
The Green Machine’s dangerous wing three quarters set the tone up for the greens as both Punchihewa and Gallage went on to score on either side. The latter, which was the Gallage try was an absolute stunner as the speedster ran from the 50 meter mark all way to the goal posts without any hassle. Kongahawatte got one out the two tries as the deficit escalated way up ( 11-20).
Ten minutes to go for lemons, Rehan Silva repeated his earlier cameo to score the fourth and his second, once again sliding inwards as Kongahawatte opted to go for a set-piece in their attacking 22. Kongahawatte added the extras (27-11).
Just before lemons, in an attempt to restrict Isipathana’s lead skipper Isuru Rangala went for the posts and got the three points off the boots of Sanushka Abeywickrema. (13-27)
The Lions came out on top in the first few passages of play in the second half both defending and attacking. Trinity went on to score their first in the second half through skipper Isuru Rangala who shoved his way through the blind side in a 5 meter maul. Abeywickrema converted (20-27).
Isipathana’s Isuru Dilshan did the cross reference on their final qualification when he warded off two incoming defenders to score the next for Isipathana which Kongahawatte converted (34-20).
The game having already announced its winner, progressed as the relaxed skipper Omalka Gunarathne gave Isuru Kongahawatte an opportunity to practice his kicking skills ahead of the big game when Trinity were penalized in their own 22. Kongahawatte’s kick was of absolute perfection (37-20).
This game being the end of the road for Trinity’s 2015 outfit consoled themselves with a consolation try that came minutes before the full time whistle. As Shalindra Alahakoon went over for one last time for the Lions, Trinity called it a day with Abeywickrema’s conversion as Isipathana College emerged victorious to progress onto the finals.
It was an exciting first half of play but game turned to be passive towards the dying stages. With that being said, the Green Machine will have lot of positives to take home and equip themselves when they face their opponents in their second successive knockouts final which is scheduled for next week.
Trinity College end their run for 2015 with this encounter and overall they should be pleased with themselves with the manner they recovered from that devastating loss against Royal College in the second leg of the Bradby Shield.
Full Time score : 37 – 28
Trinity 2P 5T 2C
ThePapare Man of the Match : Isuru Kongahawatte
