Defending champions Isipathana College produced a commanding performance as they dispatched a lackluster D.S Senanayake outfit, scoring 11 Tries in their Singer A division league, group A fixture worked off at Welisara this evening. The win along with other results ensured Isipathana of pole position in their group. (Group A)
Isipathana’s Randy Silva got things underway and the “Green Machine” signaled their intent of running rugby right from the 1st minute, spreading the ball wide using the full width of the pitch but handling errors deprived them of drawing first blood early. However they had to wait for just 6 minutes as they dismantled the host’s defense with a move that originated from inside their own 22′. A stolen line-out ball was swiftly worked through their backs and full back Chamodh Fernando drew the last defender before releasing fly half Randy Silva for an easy try. Chamodh put over the conversion to hand his side an early lead (DS 00-07 IC).
The visitors doubled their lead a few minutes later with Chamod Fernando piercing through the Dons defense to touch down under the posts. Chamodh put over the easy extras as Isipathana raced to a 14nil lead within 10 minutes. That lead though was reduced in the 15th minute with DS front rower S.Sanjana going over for a try from close range. The Dons used their heavy set of forwards and after a series of ‘pick and goes’ inside the Isipathana 22’ Sanjana grounded the ball over the line near the right corner flag for an unconverted try. Isipathana skipper Sumudu Rankothge however reinstated the 5 point lead with a fine try a couple of minutes later, brushing aside a few defenders to score on the far right. Chamod was unsuccessful with the conversion but Isipathana went ahead by 2 goals. (DS 05-19 IC).
Despite looking dangerous whenever they ran with the ball, Isipathana did have a few defensive problems to sort out as they kept handing over possession through some careless errors. The hosts managed to reduce the lead by 3 points, through the boot of H.Hemasiri who slotted through a 25 meter penalty. (DS 08-19 IC).
Unfortunately for the hosts Isipathana took complete control game from there onwards which left the Dons working overtime on defensive duty for the remainder of the half. During this period Full back Chamod Fernando completed his hat trick with 2 stunning tries while second rower Ravindu Anjula got himself onto the score sheet with a try of his own. Chamodh was on target with 2 of the conversions as the Greens went into the break with a comfortable lead.
HALF TIME : D.S SENANAYAKE 08 – ISIPATHANA 38
The resumption was not the best of starts for both the teams with poor ball handling and repeated infringements dominating the early few minutes. Isipathana were reduced to 14 men with Ravindu Anjula sent to the sin bin in the 45th minute after the greens were warned for repeated infringements. Despite the numerical disadvantage it was Isipathana who scored two successive tries in the 50th and 53rd minute with Chamodh Fernando and Randy Silva going over for 2 brilliant tries one after the other. Chamodh added the extras on both occasions as Isipathana had the match wrapped up with their hapless opponents looking deflated. (DS 08-52 IC).
With the game in the bag Isipathana coach Lasintha de Costa decided to empty his bench in a bid to give them much needed game time and overall the reserves showed good skill as the visitors went on to score 3 more tries and by the 70th minute the scoreboard read 69 points to 08 in favour of the “Green Machine”. The visitors kept spreading the ball wide and using their speedy backs and were just too much to handle with Wingers Janith Serasinghe, Ramitha Himash and fly half Anjana Thushan going over the whitewash. Even though Isipathana managed to convert just one out of the three tries; the damage had already been done. (DS 08-69 IC).
The hosts ended the game in the with a consolation try during the dying stages as S.A Rathnayake scored an unconverted try off a forwards rush.
FULL TIME : D.S SENANAYAKE 13 – ISIPATHANA 69
Referee: Deepal Punyawardane
Thepapare.com player of the match: Chamodh Fernando (IC)
Score Breakdown: D.S Senanayake 13 (08)
Tries: S.Sanjana, S.A Rathnayake
Penalties: H Hemasiri
Score Breakdown: Isipathana 69 (38)
Tries: Chamodh Fernando (4) Randy Silva (2) Sumudu Rankothge, Ravindu Anjula, Janith Serasinghe, Ramitha Himash, Anjana Thushan.
Conversions: Chamodh Fernando (7)
