Isipathana inches close to league claims beating Trinity

A minute silence was taken place before the kickoff, respecting the gentleman who scored the first ever try for Isipathana College’s rugby history, Dayalu Perera who died three days ago. Visitors who scored the first points from Lashane Wijesuriya’s boot after Isipathana infringing in the breakdown. Trinity’s Shalindra Alahakoon made an early knock-on but it did not take too long for him to make a huge impact for his team with some ferocious tackles and turnovers. (IC 00 – 03 TCK)

It took a while for the hosts to enter the opposite half as Trinity defence was rock solid. However Ispathana with the trademark play switching the ball from right to left and scored the first try through Ranidu Padmasanka. Full back Gayan Wickramarathne missed the conversion on a difficult angle. In the 23^rd minute Isipathana hit back with a scrum move as their skipper Kushan Indunil touched down under the post. Gayan made the easy two points. (IC 12 – 3 TCK)

Winger Ayesh Edirisinghe of Trinity responded in a similar fashion as their opposite team scored the first try with a brilliant line work. Lashane missed the extras from the corner. Since then both teams battled hard for the possession in the soggy underfoot conditions. However, it did not affect the rhythm of Isipathana’s motion as the heavens opened up. Three minutesbefore half time Isipathana displayed some fantastic ball handling skills with 12,15,14 move as the No14 Padmasanka went to score his second try. Try scorer himself missed the conversion.

Half time : Isipathana 18 – 08 Trinity

As Isipathana took the restart flanker Adeesha Weerathunga made a lovely collection in the air to regain possession. However, it was Trinity who dominated the first 10 minutes of the third quarter of the game. Skipper Rahul Karunarathilake fended two players and made a few yards to charge Trinity’s momentum with a captains try. Six minutes later Trinity playing in the opposite red zone and Shalindra Alahakoon buldozing in to the whitewash brought about a pin drop silence in the Greens camp. Lashane made both conversions. (IC 17 – 22 TCK)

Prop Ekanayake and lock  Vishwajith of Isipathana made some fine yards and countered the big Trinity forwards in the breakdowns. In the 55^th minute Isipathana had a penalty inside the opposite 22m but they opted to tap and run. After makinga few phases, the ball was sent out wide as Adeesha scored the comeback try and Padmasanka curled in the conversion from his left boot. . (IC 24 – 22 TCK)

Photo Album – Isipathana College vs Trinity College

As the game progressed to the last quarter, it was a massive tussle between both teams. C. Nanayakkara broke the defensive line of the greens with his first touch, coming fresh from the bench. But the yards he made were in vain as Trinity lost possession going ‘off-feet’ on the breakdown. Trinity had yet another chance with a 25m straight penalty but Lashane could not hold his nerves to take the lead and the kick went astray.

Isipathana scrum half Harith Handara was outstanding as he delivered some quick balls to his backs and in the 70^th minute he scored a well-deserved try after receiving the offload from his skipper Idunil. Trinity firing on all cylinders blazed to opposite half but Rahul’s knock on in the red zone lost possession. Isipathana simply capitalizing  on that opportunity and stormed in to Trinity’s 22m. With the clock ticking and pressure mounting, the visitors playing offside to stop the threatallowed Isipathana to win a penalty and Padmasanka put the final nail on the coffin with a 25m straight penalty.

Full time:  IC 32 (T5 C2 P1) – TCK 22 (T3 C2 P1)

ThePapare Player of the match – Harith Bandara (Isipathana half back)

Isipathana : Ranidu Padmasanka (2T 1C 1P), Kushan Idunil 1T, Adeesha Weerathunga 1T, Harith Bandara 1T, Gayan Wickramarathne 1C

Trinity : Ayesh Edirisinghe 1T, Rahul Karunathilake 1T, Shalindra Alahakoon 1T, Lashane Wijesuriya (1C 1P)