Isipathana and S. Thomas’ faced each other today (08th of September) in the 2nd semi final of the Dialog Schools Rugby Knockouts 2024 at the Royal Complex. After a close tussle between the two sides, the initial 70 minute period was not enough to find a winner as the scoreline read 20-20. But Isipathana College who have had more close shaves than any other team this season walked out victorious with a try in the extra time period.
Isipathana started the game on a strong note as they made inroads into the Thomian 22m territory very early in the game and a long cutout pass from Shahid Zumri to Abdullah Faizer just 5m away from the whitewash opened up the right side of the field completely for Faizer who touche down easily. Zumri converted the try to increase the early lead for the Green Machine (IC 07 – 00 STC)
S. Thomas’ opened their account in the semi final clash when they received a penalty just outside the opposition 22m line for an offside infringement as Skipper Yehan Bulathsinghalage kicked it through comfortably (IC 07 – 03 STC)
Thomians slowly started to build up momentum as their forwards started to find their rhythm. They kept hitting hard and gained good yardage as the continuity of play without making mistakes was a treat to watch from them. After 30+ phases the powerhouse number 8 Merckyle Karunaratne found the whitewash as they took the lead for the first time in the clash. Senior Bulathsinghalage had no trouble converting the try to make it a 3 point buffer at half time (IC 07 – 10 STC)
Half-Time : S. Thomas’ College 10 – 07 Isipathana College
S. Thomas’ College started the 2nd half strong, putting a lot of pressure on the Green Machine as they scored a try inside the first 5 minutes as Udan Bulathsinghalage found the whitewash from the left corner of the field. His elder brother Yehan added the 2 points once again (IC 07 – 17 STC)
Nimantha Sandeepa then produced a moment of brilliance for Isipathana when he found space from the right edge of the field and gained at least 50m evading 3 Thomian tacklers to go all the way. The conversion however didn’t go over for Isipathana (IC 12 – 17 STC)
Both the teams kicked through a penalty each in the next few minutes as this time it was Sandeepa who added the 3 for the Green Machine while the Thomian skipper continued his solid day as a kicker adding 3 more (IC 15 – 20 STC)
After Kalindu Shenal was shown two yellow cards and sent out with a red card, Isipathana had to play with one less man on the field. But the replacement scrum half for Isipathana Sethupa Bometh managed to increase the speed of the game with some good ball off the rucks and changed the directions quickly and smoothly from right to left and left to right, tiring the defensive line of S. Thomas’ College. With some new found momentum Isipathana made use of the continuous advantages they received in the last few minutes and they finally got the job done just second before full time off a brilliant rolling maul where Kaveen Tharusha found the try line. The conversion was a hard one for Sandeepa from the right corner of the field and with it going away from the right post the referee signalled for the full time whistle (IC 20 – 20 STC)
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As this is a knockout fixture the next step was to go into sudden death where two halves of 5 minutes each will be played and whichever team that scores first gets the victory. Isipathana had majority of the possession during the first few minutes of extra time and Sandeepa once again found a break from the left corner of the field to take Isipathana close to the whitewash. Isipathana then passed the ball to the right and shifted back to the left side as Zumri’s back of the hand pass found Faizer and Faizer gave the offload back to Zumri and touched the ball down confirming their spot at the final. It was a heartbreak for S. Thomas’ College who fought valiantly but just at the end they went out of gas to defend the Green Machine.
Abdul Ahamed was adjudged NDB Bank Player of the Match for his impressive work at the line-outs and he contributed with some good ball carries and crucial tackles as well. With this result it will be once again St. Peter’s College Vs Isipathana College in the finals of the Dialog Schools Rugby Knockouts 2024 a rematch of last year’s final.
Full-Time : Isipathana College 25 (4T 1C 1P) defeated S. Thomas’ College 20 (2T 2C 2P)
- NDB Bank Player of the Match : Abdul Ahamed (IC)
Points Breakdown
Isipathana College : Nimantha Sandeepa 8 Points (1 Try 1 Penalty), Shahid Zumri 7 Points (1 Try 1 Conversion), Kaveen Tharusha 5 Points (1 Try), Abdullah Faizer 5 Points (1 Try)
S. Thomas’ College : Yehan Bulathsinghalage 10 Points (2 Conversions 2 Penalties), Merckyle Karunaratne 5 Points (1 Try), Udan Bulathsinghalage 5 Points (1 Try)
 in the 2nd semi final of the Dialog Schools Rugby Knockouts 2024 at the Royal Complex.){kind=link}