Isipathana College booked their place in the Milo Presidents trophy knockout Final as they dispatched a spirited Science College team 39-17 at Royal Sports Complex in Colombo on Sunday.
Isipathana College produced an adrenaline-charged powerful performance in the second half, displaying a hallmark of a champion team with Omalaka Gunarathna being instrumental at No.8 and scoring tries through fullback Silva and prop Disanayaka to a name a few who stood out for Isipathana.
Science College game out all guns blazing and attacked from the beginning but it did not take Isipathana College long to settled down and register first points on board as fullback Silva who had some magical moments during the game, crossed the try line after constant pressure that opened up a gap for the greens . Dilshan successfully converted the try. (IC 07-00 SC)
Science College struck back with their own brand of great running rugby as captain- Centre Gomez scored under the post through a blindside break and marvelous pass from open side flanker Perera to level scores at 7-all.
The boys from Mount Lavinia gained the lead for the first time in the game as they pressurized the Pathana defense and spread the ball wide to have the wing Sandaruwan score in the far left corner and lift the spirits of his team. Singhe successfully converted the try. (IC 07-14 SC)
Isipathana College got their chance to close the gap but an unsuccessful penalty kick from Dilshan kept the scores unchanged and Pathana slipped back further more on the score board as they conceded easy penalties at the break down. Science College pounced on the opportunity to extend their lead as kicker Singhe succeeded at the uprights (IC 07-17 SC)
Science College handed the momentum back as they let Pathana close the gap to three points just before heading to the half time break. Isipathana College prop Disanayaka barged over to score beside the post. Dilshan converted successfully. (IC14-17 SC)
Half time: (IC 14 – 17 SC)
Isipathana College ran out after the resumption rejuvenated, as their NO.8 Omalka Gunarathna produced a trademark burst on the blind side from a scrum enabling him to score in corner to settle things down for Pathana right after the break. Kongahawaththa missed the conversion. (IC 19-17 SC)
Isipathana College continued further strengthening their comeback when Gunarathna scored his second of the game as he broke down the blind side yet again to finish brilliantly in the corner and extend their lead further. Dilshan missed the conversion. (IC 24-17)
Isipathana College hooker sliced through the Science defense like a knife through butter through and placed the ball for scrumhalf, Maduranga who passed to fly half Kongahawaththa as he put boot to ball and found fullback Silva. Silva bagged his second of the match and put the result in no doubt for Pathana. Dilshan missed the conversion. (IC 29-17 SC)
Science College fell back further when No.8 Gunarathna successfully completed his hat trick as he scored off yet another maul as Pathana took firm control of the game. Dilshan successfully converted. (IC 36-17 SC)
Isipathana College ended the game with a penalty off the boot of Dilshan as they held Science scoreless in the second half and proceeded to the final of the Milo Presidents trophy knockout with the hope of bagging their third trophy of the season. (IC 39 -12 SC)
Full time: IC 39(6T,3C,1P) – SC 17(2T,2C,1P)
ThePapare Man Of the Match: No.8 Gunarathna (Isipathana)
Refree: A.C. Tennakoon
