Isipathana College hosted S.Thomas’ College in a last week game of Round 1 in the Dialog Schools Rugby League 2024 today (04th August) at Havelock Park.
This was a high stakes encounter for both the sides as Isipathana needed a win to keep their unbeaten run alive and S. Thomas’ needed a win to qualify for the super rounds. After a high octane back and forth clash, Isipathana College ended the super round dream of the Thomians with a 41-27 scoreline.
Isipathana College started the game strong as they used their backline speed to continuously put the S.Thomas’ defence under pressure. The visitors gave away too many penalties as well to make things easier for the Green Machine. Nimantha Sandeepa scored the first of the game from the right corner of the field but unfortunately the conversion didn’t go over from Shaahid Zumri (IC 05 – 00 STC)
The lead didn’t last long for the home team as S.Thomas’ managed to hit back and hit back hard with a converted try as Seneshka Liyanagunawardene went over and Yehan Bulathsinghalage converted it to give his team the lead (IC 05 – 07 STC)
Few minutes later Isipathana conceded a penalty from kickable distance as Bulathsinghalage went for the 3 points and kicked it through to make their advantage 5 points (IC 05 – 10 STC)
Shortly after, Isipathana made use of the numbers advantage they received after a Thomian player was sent to the sin bin as Dinada Wickramarachchi found the whitewash with some lovely stepping. Zumri failed to convert the try and give his team the lead back (IC 10 – 10 STC)
Half-Time : Isipathana College 10 – 10 S.Thomas’ College
Isipathana began the 2nd half in a blistering manner when Zumri produced a scintiliating run off the kickoff evading multiple defenders. Some slick passing after that and a lovely carry from Sethum Rajapaksha towards the left corner and a change of direction passing from left to right opened up a massive gap for Sandeepa to touchdown. The conversion went astray again from Zumri (IC 15 – 10 STC)
The Green Machine went bang bang when Abdullah Faizer spotted a gap right in between two Thomian defenders and went all the way. The conversion from Sandeepa went over this time as the lead increased up to 12 points for the hosts (IC 22 – 10 STC)
Trailing by 12 points, S.Thomas’ needed something special and the forwards did exactly that as they managed to put the Pathanians under pressure as they started to make mistakes and Merckyle Karunaratne went over to inject some life back into his team. Bulathsinghalage with another conversion on target decreased the deficit down to just 5 points (IC 22 – 17 STC)
With S.Thomas’ finding their feet once again in the match, Kenula Mihisara of Isipathana was sent to the sin bin after a desperate defensive effort to prevent the visitors from going over. But his absence was a huge blow for the hosts as Karunaratne went over once again to make things even once again. However the opportunity to get the lead didn’t go in their favor when Bulathsinghalage missed the conversion (IC 22 – 22 STC)
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Isipathana finally managed to gain some momentum back on their side when Faizer started a good move with a lovely kick and chase collection while Zumri also chipped in doing the same to take the team closer to the whitewash. Kaveen Tharsusha almost went all the way but a high tackle prevented him from touching the ball down as the referee decided it was a major tackle preventing infringement to award a penalty try (IC 29 – 22 STC)
Isipathana once again managed to make inroads deep into opposition territory but the visitors managed to get the ball back. But the Thomians made the cardinal error of trying to run with the ball just 10 metres away from their own try line as they conceded a holding on penalty. With just 10 metres to go Kaveen Tharusha was able to overpower his way through the opposition defensive line. The conversion was unsuccessful this time (IC 34 – 22 STC)
The intense nature of the game reached a new level when Avishka Perera found the whitewash from the left corner of the field as he gave the Thomians a little ray of hope going into the last few minutes. Bulathsinghalage missed the conversion from a hard angle (IC 34 – 27 STC)
Isipathana then managed to diminish the last ray of hope for the Thomians when Zumri connected a lovely cross kick pass from left to right as Sandeepa placed himself brilliantly with a lovely run to make the collection and go all the way. Avishka Hiran kicked the conversion through to add the last points of the game (IC 41 – 27 STC)
It was an entertaining game of rugby between two very good sides as both the teams showcased sheer talent. With this win Isipathana will go into the super round as an unbeaten team and they will be hoping they can win the crunch moments against two formidable sides in Royal and St. Peter’s in the upcoming two weeks.For S.Thomas’ they can be proud of producing a solid league season and it should give them the confidence to come out as a much stronger unit at the knockouts.
Shahid Zumri once again walked out with the NDB Bank Player of the Match although he didn’t score a single point today. He was instrumental for the boys in green with his brilliant touch finders and mesmerising runs through the heart of defence. His form will be vital for the Green Machine going into the super rounds.
Full Time : Isipathana College 41 (7T 3C) beat S.Thomas’ College 27 (4T 2C 1P)
- NDB Bank Player of the Match : Shaahid Zumri (IC)
Isipathana College : Nimantha Sandeepa 17 Points (3 Tries 1 Conversion), Abdullah Faizer 5 Points (1 Try), Kaveen Tharusha 5 Points (1 Try), Dinada Wickramarachchi 5 Points (1 Try), Avishka Hiran 2 Points (1 Conversion)
S.Thomas’ College : Merckyle Karunaratne 10 Points (2 Tries), Avishka Perera 5 Points (1 Try), Seneshka Liyanagunawardene 5 Points (1 Try), Yehan Bulathsinghalage 7 Points (2 Conversions 1 Penalty)
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