Isipathana College hosted Dharmaraja College in a week 03 clash of the Dialog Schools Rugby League 2024 yesterday (30th of June) at Havelock Park. In a one sided encounter the hosts nullified the visitors with a scoreline of 46-08.
Both the teams made errors very early in the game and Rajans registered the early lead in the encounter after a penalty was awarded to them as Sadeesha Weerawansha added the 3 points (IC 00 – 03 DCK)
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Isipathana College managed to take the lead back after Kaveen Tharusha went over for the try after receiving a penalty a few metres short of their try line. Abdullah Faizer converted the try to increase their lead (IC 07 – 03 DCK)
Dinada Wickramarahchi scored the second try of the game for the Green Machine with Shahid Zumri setting it up with a lovely run from the left corner of the field. Faizer converted the try once again as Isipathana were up and running big time at the park (IC 14 – 03 DCK)
The hosts then found the whitewash for a third time inside the first 20 minutes when the backline pulled off some slick offloads and clean collections with Adithya Madushan going over as the Dharmaraja defenders just didn’t have enough gas to stop the Green Machine. This time however Faizer missed the conversion but the lead was already 16 points for the home team (IC 19 – 03 DCK)
Shahid Zumri produced another solid run and Avishka Hiran also managed to spot a gap and gain some good metres before giving the pass out to Faizer who had the support of Madushan but with one man to beat he sold a dummy pass and went over quite easily. Nimantha Sandeepa converted the try to add the two extra points (IC 26 – 03 DCK)
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Just before half-time Isipathana College were awarded with a penalty close to the 22m territory of the Rajans and they opted for the scrum with Faizer, Hiran and Madushan combining to go over with some good lateral running. The conversion was unsuccessful again but Isipathana went to the half-time break with a solid 28 point lead (IC 31 – 03 DCK)
Half-Time : IC 31 – 03 DCK
The first try of the second half came for the Green Machine when Kalindu Silva went for a kick and it bounced away from the Rajans fullback who couldn’t recover the ball as Hiran who gave chase managed to touchdown after a comedy of errors from Dharmaraja. From a hard angle the conversion once again went astray for the hosts (IC 36 – 03 DCK)
The replacement scrum half for Isipathana College Sithupa Bometh with an up and under from the ruck and Zumri with a phenomenal chase and an even better collection off the ground gave the offload out to Wickramarachchi who gave the ball out to Tharusha who joined the line and went all the way for his 2nd try showcasing some pure pace for a forward of his stature. From the left touchline the conversion once again went off target (IC 41 – 03 DCK)
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After a long time Dharmaraja College found some life in the match when Yapa Bandara dished out a brilliant run to take them close to the try line. To make things easier for them Nisaja Jayaweera the home skipper and Sanija Jayaweera were sent to the sin bin in a very questionable manner at the same time by the referee and Dharmaraja cashed in on the opportunity as Ravindu Wickramage found the whitewash (IC 41 – 08 DCK)
Samiru Disas scored the last try of the game when Isipathana worked the ball from right to left after the Rajans lost the ball forward a few metres away from their own try line making the cardinal error of trying to work the ball close to their try line (IC 46 – 08 DCK)
>>Green Machine begin the season with a thumping victory at home Dialog Schools Rugby League 2024<<
Isipathana College will be really happy with the performance from this week as the unit looked out of sorts last week against Science although they walked out with the win. The first half performance was probably their best half of the season so far and the changes they made to the forwards and the backs worked out brilliantly for them.
Shahid Zumri has been prolific for the Green Machine in the first two games and he continued that fine form with another perfect performance to win the NDB Bank Player of the Match as he looks to be thriving as the playmaker of the Isipathana College unit this season.
Full Time : Isipathana College 46 (8T 3C) beat Dharmaraja College 08 (1T 1P)
- NDB Bank Player of the Match : Shahid Zumri (IC)
Points Breakdown
Isipathana College : Kaveen Tharusha 10 Points (2 Tries), Abdullah Faizer 9 Points (1 Try 2 Conversions), Dinada Wickramarachchi 5 Points (1 Try), Samiru Disas 5 Points (1 Try), Adithya Madushan 10 Points (2 Tries), Avishka Hiran 5 Points (1 Try), Nimantha Sandeep 2 Points (1 Conversion)
Dharmaraja College : Sadeesha Weerawansha 3 Points (1 Penalty), Ravindu WIckramage 5 Points (1 Try)
 at Havelock Park. In a one sided encounter the hosts nullified the visitors with a scoreline of 46-08.){kind=link}