Green Machine Off To A Roaring Start

Under the attention of Referee Irshad Cader, Gayan Wickaramarathne got things underway as Isipathana began attacking the main pavilion end. It took a mere couple of minutes for them to go ahead as Devin Gunarathne scored the first try for Isipathana which went unconverted. Dharmaraja however responded a few minutes later through the boot of Sri Lanka under 19 Football player D.M Ekanayake who used his kicking skills to slot in a penalty from 35 meters. Isipathana scored their 2nd try of the game five minutes later through Chamod Fernando who used his strength and power to hold off the Rajans defense to touch down at the corner flag. Ranidu Padmasanka’s conversion attempt from  an acute angle just lacked the distance. In the 15th minute of play, the Isipathana threes showed off some dazzling footwork and good hands combining their skills in a brilliant passage of play that was finished off by scrum half Harith Bandara who scored the 3rd try for the hosts. Pressure kept on piling up for the Rajans as a few minutes later they were penalized for a high tackle. Winger Ranidu Padmasanka slotted through the 3 points with ease. The “Green Shirts” were all over their opponents, right after the restart when Sumudu Rankothge added the finishing touches to a good move where the Isipathana forwards and threes combined effectively. Things only got worse for the traveling Rajans as Isipathana Skipper Kushan Indunil and Full back Gayan Wickramarathne scored one after the other to bring Isipathana’s tally to 37 points for the 1st half.

Half Time: Isipathana 37 – Dharmaraja 03

 Photo Album – Isipathana College vs Dharmaraja College (Schools Rugby 2016) 

With the game virtually out of reach Dharmaraja College approached the 2nd half with much needed vigor and determination. They got off to the perfect start in the 2nd half as V.G Malinga scored a brilliant try which was created thanks to a good bit of off loading from his Fly Half. The try went unconverted but the try was enough to get the Rajan players and spectators  pumped up. Yet almost immediately after the restart the home team scored another try through winger Chamodh Fernando who weaved his way through the Rajans defense to score a brilliant try which was also his 2nd of the match. The game was well and truly over for the visitors by the 50th minute when No.08 Vageesha Weerasinghe went on to score under the posts. The Isipathana players once again showed good awareness and were omnipresent in support play as Weerasinghe finished off another brilliant team try which was converted by Padmasanka (49-03)

Depite being quite brilliant in attack Isipathana kept giving away penalties, especially in their own half when their defense was questioned. Dharmaraja scored their second try of the game taking advantage of their opponents’ mistakes through their skipper W.M Bandara. Substitute T.G Galapitagedara was on target with the conversion. Isipathana, with the match already in the bag brought most of their reserves into play and the next 20 minutes saw both teams in a keen tussle out in the middle. The short 20 minutes silence in points was broken when replacement Fly half Randy Silva scored his teams’ 9th try of the evening after some good work by Chamod Fernando. (54-15). Fernando went on to complete his hat-trick in 77th minute scoring under the posts giving Dileeka Hettiacrachchi an easy kick at goal which capped off a fine outing for the “Green Machine”

Man of the Match – Chamod Fernando (Isipathana College)

Referee –  Irshad Cader