Green Machine of Isipathana College beat Royal College by 27-22 in the Milo President’s trophy final at Royal Sports Complex as Senal Deelaka Silva led an unbeaten Isipathana outfit to a triple crown in the 2014 schools rugby season.
Boys in green won the all island sevens championship, Singer league title and finally the Milo President’s trophy to finish off a memorable 2014 season. Isipathana had one final hurdle to jump against the marauding Royalists who knocked down Trinity lions last week when they took the field.
The much-awaited final of the Milo President’s trophy was kicked off by Royal skipper Nimshan Jayawardene after the singing of the respective college anthems. Isipathana started their usual routine of using their backs and forwards combined to attack against the robust Royal forward pack. Both teams gave away the ball at crucial points taking turns in offensive play in the first 15 minutes as fast, open rugby was on display.
Isipathana drew first blood in the 18th minute of the first half when their blazing wing three-quarter Dilan Gallage dashed 40 meters while working his magic going past several Royal defenders to score near the corner flag. It looked like the Royal skipper in desperate last moment effort managed to put him over the touch line but the Referee thought otherwise and awarded a try to Isipathana. Chathura Dilshan failed to convert the extra points. (Isipathana 05 – Royal 00)
With 22 minutes on the clock, Royal got their first points on the score board when their reliable place kicker and Captain Nimshan Jayawardene fired across an easy 20 meter penalty after Isipathana defense line was penalized for off-side play. (Isipathana 05 – Royal 03)
Isipathanians looked dangerous with ball in hand as their counter-attacking skills were brilliant whilst the Royalists used their mobile forwards more often to break through the Pathana defense in the 1st half. Impressive Isipathana number 8 Omalka Gunarathne scored his 1st try for the evening when he barged over the try line in the 28th minute to extend the lead. Omalka scored after several offensive phases deep inside Royal territory and Omalka’s first attempts was not given by the referee as he was held up on the try line. Chathura Dilshan bisected the posts to add the extra points. (Isipathana 12 – Royal 03)
Royal needed some spark and their center Bhanuka Gamage almost gave them their 1st try through a scintillating run but failed to convert it into points as his wing-three quarter was tackled and dragged to the 5-meter touch line with ball in hand. Isipathana needed a steady line-out but their hooker Nishal Deshatha over-threw the ball straight into the hands of Royal flanker Shawkat Lahir who easily touched down with only 5 minutes left of the 1st half. Nimshan Jayawardene failed to convert the try. (Isipathana 12 – Royal 08)
Exciting and fast-paced half of rugby came to an end as referee Irshad Cader blew the half-time whistle giving 10 minutes of easy breathing space to the packed-house crowd present at Royal Sports Complex.
Half Time: Isipathana 12 – Royal 08
After the lemons break, Isipathana fly-half Isuru Kongahawaththe kicked started the 2nd half’s proceedings. Royal showed early signs of using their backs more in the 2nd half compared to the 1st half as their skipper Nimshan Jayawardene dazzled his way through Isipathana defense giving early jitters to the Green Machine.
With only 5 minutes in the 2nd half, Royal came into the lead for the first time as their wonderful skipper Nimshan ran a perfect angle to break through the Pathana defense from an organized and structured set-move play which caught the Pathana defenders napping as Nimshan scored the 2nd Royal try under the posts. Nimshan easily converted his own try.
(Isipathana 12 – Royal 15)
Isipathana leveled the scores in the 49th minute of the game when their second row forward cum place kicker Chathura Dilshan kicked over a 19 meter penalty which they received from a Royal off-side play infringement. (Isipathana 15 – Royal 15)
Many have acclaimed him as the new generation Hisham Abdeen due to the similarities in their play and Omalka Gunarathne truly lived up to his reputation as he scored his 2nd try of the match through a bustling 20 meter rolling maul by Isipathana forwards which the Royalists failed to hold onto. Chathura Dilshan’s conversion went astray as Isipathana came into the lead once again. (Isipathana 20 – Royal 15)
Isipathana College was down to 14 men as their try-scorer Dilan Gallage was yellow carded for a dangerous tackle in the 58th minute of the game. Royal used the one-man advantage to effect in the 60th minute when their renowned rolling maul finally motored up and gave them valuable points through hooker Supun Warnakoolasuriya as he scored his 15th try of the season. Nimshan Jayawardene bisected the uprights perfectly as Royal edged ahead with 20 minutes of grueling rugby left. (Isipathana 20 – Royal 22)
Isipathana were searching for their elusive match-winning try though the Royalists bravely put up a solid effort in order to contain the Pathana boys with their slight two-point lead. Omalka Gunarathne missed a great opportunity to score a hat-trick of tries in the 65th minute as he knocked the ball on inside the Royal in-goal area.
In the final 10 minutes, Isipathana vice-captain and prop forward Ganuka Dissnayake took the game away from Royal College as he pounced over the try line to score an elegant try around the fringes. Chathura Dilshan easily converted to extend their lead to 5 points. (Isipathana 27 – Royal 22)
Royal needed another special come back as their game against Trinity but this time around, Isipathana players defended ferociously as Royal had the possession in the final minutes but the well-oiled Green Machine defended as their lives were upon this game. Royal had no ball carriers or line breakers to break through the Pathana defense as referee Irshad Cader blew the long whistle to end another classic schools rugby encounter with Isipathana College bagging the Milo President’s trophy after a lapse of 2 years and crowned as the unbeaten triple champions.
Full Time: Isipathana 27 – Royal 22
ThePapare.com Man of the Match – Omalka Gunarathne
Milo President’s Trophy Player of the Tournament – Omalka Gunarathne
Isipathana head-coach Nilufer Ibrahim expressed his words of joy after the game –
“We had one plan of becoming triple champions at the start of the season and I’m extremely delighted that we achieved our goal. All credit must be given to the boys for a fantastic season.”
