Front runners and unbeaten ‘Green Machine’ of Isipathana College continued their impressive run in the schools under 20 rugby league when they overcame St. Joseph’s College by 24 points to (2G,2T) 08 (1T,1P) at CR & FC grounds today.
Isipathana came into this crucial week 4 game after their exciting win over Trinity last week while St. Joseph’s took the rugby field after a month’s break. Pathana started the game with the ‘Favorites’ tag being unbeaten so far in the league while Joes marched in as the ‘Underdogs’ as they lost both their previous matches. Rain started minutes before the kickoff and turned down any chance for a fast and open rugby game.
Isipathana fly-half Isuru Kongahawatte kicked off the game to referee A.C Tennakoon’s long whistle but Isuru’s kick failed to reach 10 meter line and the play was called back for a scrum in the center of the field. Both teams took the early minutes to settle down under soggy conditions as Josephians attacked the strong Isipathana lads in their own half. Josephian fly-half Dulith Fernando opened scoring for ‘Darley road’ boys when he fired across a 25 meter penalty kick after Isipathana defense line was reprimanded for offside play in the 5th minute of the game. (Isipathana 00 – St. Joseph’s 03)
Isipathana finally found their rhythm in the 15th minute through Kongahawatte after few attacking phases combined by their forwards and backs as the Pathana first five-eighth showed the dummy and broke through the defense to score the first try of the game. Isuru converted his own try with ease. (Isipathana 07 – St. Joseph’s 03)
Isipathana continued hunting the Josephians; the ‘Green Machine’s attacking plays were led by their strong and burly No.8 Omalka Gunaratne. Future Sri Lankan prospect was tough to bring down as he broke off the first tackle almost every time he was in the attacking mode. Isipathana center Chathura Dilshan scored the 2nd try for the hosts in the 22nd minute from a brilliant set play move which foxed the Josephian defense. Kongahawatte successfully converted the try. (Isipathana 14 – St. Joseph’s 03)
Ball handling was not up to the mark due to wet conditions and the Josephians gave away possession in crucial moments through their awful line outs which was a big weakness in their game. St. Joseph’s received a penalty kick in the 30th minute which their full back Shamilka Kurumbalapitiya failed to put over.
The Joes camp hit another severe blow when their skipper and play maker Vishmitha Peiris was stretched out from an injury minutes before the half time whistle. Last move of the 1st half came through Omalka Gunaratne as he showed his class as the best No.8 in the current schools rugby season after he ran through number of Josephian defenders in a brilliant counter-attacking move which almost scored the 3rd Pathana try.
Half Time: Isipathana 14 – St. Joseph’s 03
After the break, play was restarted by Josephian full back Shamilka Kurumbalapitiya’s kick which was identical to the game’s opening kick which did not reach 10 meters line of the opposition territory. Isipathana continued from where they left off in the first half as they were quick to attack on the Josephian outfit with their speedy backs being given much of the possession with the rain clouds shifting away from Longden place.
St. Joseph’s looked an entirely different team in the 2nd half as they secured the ball to go deep into the Pathana territory and enjoyed more possession for 10 minutes of the 2nd half but failed to cross the try line after several attempts as the rock hard Isipathana defense held the Josephians from going over the line which were the best phases of play for Blue & White college during the course of the game.
Isipathana closed down any doors for a Josephian comeback when their nippy scrum-half Sudam Parinda Sooriyarchchi finished off another brilliant move initiated by Omalka Gunaratne in the 66th minute to post the first score of the 2nd half. Isipathana No.10 Isuru Kongahawatte missed the conversion. (Isipathana 19 – St. Joseph’s 03)
Game entered the final 10 minutes with Isipathana heading for another win but they were looking for a crucial bonus point try. St. Joseph’s College forwards finally found a soft spot in Isipathana defense as the Josephians drove a strong 20 meter maul from a line out and the replacement prop forward Charana Sendanayake scored the first and only Josephian try for the gloomy evening. Josephian No.15 Shamilka Kurumbalapitiya failed to add the extra points.
(Isipathana 19 – St. Joseph’s 08)
Josephians were short of attacking opportunities while Isipathana was terrific in attacking play as their back line was lethal with ball in hand. Isipathana skipper Senal Deelaka Silva had another influential and exceptional game with his solid defense work and leadership abilities while No.8 Suchintha Udumalagala was the most outstanding player for the College from Darley road with his heavy workload.
Isipathana’s stand out performer Omalka Gunaratne finished the game scoring a try fittingly for him as Isipathana gained the bonus point with Omalka’s try in the 78th minute. Sudam Parinda missed the conversion as referee A.C Tennakoon blew the long final whistle to end the match handing Isipathana College another comfortable win. St. Joseph’s College will have lot to ponder ahead of their future games.
Full Time: Isipathana 24 – St. Joseph’s 08
After the win, Isipathana coach Nilufer Ibrahim expressed his views on the win – “We wanted to win the game with a bonus point and we did it. More tough games are ahead and we want to win every game with the bonus point. “
ThePapare Player of the match – Omalka Gunaratne
