Isipathana College’s green machine once again started to move when they steamrolled debutants, CWW Kannangara Vidyalaya by 71-05 points at CR & FC grounds to commence their Schools Rugby title defense with a comprehensive win on Sunday evening.
Omalka Gunaratne led his team to a 13-try victory and sent out a clear message to all the other teams of what they are capable of this season as they annihilated Kannangara lads in a one-sided affair which was started with Pathana fly-half Isuru Kongahawaththe kicking off the game.
Isipathana’s try fest was started in the 5th minute when Kongahawaththe sneaked through the Kannangara defense with a small dummy and scored under the posts. Chathura Dilshan made no mistake with the conversion. (Isipathana 07 – Kannangara 00)
The marauding try-scoring machine of number 8 Omalka Gunaratne was once again on display when he dashed to the try line from a 35-meter out scrum in the 11th minute of the game. Chathura failed to convert the try. (Isipathana 12 – Kannangara 00)
The vulnerability of the Pathana defense was showcased only once in the match and that was in the 17th minute when the Kannangara center Lahiru Lakshan scored a superb try in the far corner of the field. Shehan Deepal missed the conversion. (Isipathana 12 – Kannangara 05)
As the first quarter ended, Omalka Gunaratne once again broke through from their 22’ with a counter-attacking run but a valiant tackle by the Kannangara full back deprived the Pathana skipper but he managed to off load it to Rehan Silva who managed to touch down with ease. Nishal Deshatha failed to add extra points. (Isipathana 17 – Kannangara 05)
The Isipathana inside center Kushan Indunil got his name in the scoring sheet when he powered his way to a cracking try in the far corner with 30 minutes of the game done and dusted. Nisal Deshatha once again missed the posts. (Isipathana 22 – Kannangara 05)
Isipathana was completely dominating the game with their hard-working forwards and speedy backs and their bulky second-row forward Chathura Dilshan scored two unconverted tries in the final few minutes of the first half to extend the lead.
Half-Time: Isipathana 32 – CWW Kannangara 05
After the 10-minute breather, Lahiru Lakshan resumed the game for the visitors. The Pathana winger Asitha Punchihewa danced his way through couple of defenders in the 44th minute to restart the try-scoring spree with an individually brilliant try. Chathura Dilshan added the extra points. (Isipathana 39 – Kannangara 05)
Omalka Gunaratne completed his hat-trick of tries in space of 4 minutes when he touched down in the left and right corners of the pitch respectively but both tries were not converted as Isipathana continued to overpower the Kannangara lads. (Isipathana 49 – Kannangara 05)
Isipathana injected young blood from the bench to give them much-needed game time as the final quarter of the match started when Chathura Dilshan accomplished his hat-trick of tries in the 60th minute when he burst through the lackluster Kannangara defense but failed to convert his own try. (Isipathana 54 – Kannangara 05)
With only 10 minutes left on the game clock, Isipathana back line showed good sets of hands when their full back cum center Rehan Silva made another line break and scored his 2nd try for the brand new season. Replacement scrum-half Gayan Wickramarathne failed to bisect the posts. (Isipathana 59 – Kannangara 05)
The 12th Isipathana try was scored in the 76th minute when the replacement center D.P Sanka spotted a nice gap in the Kannangara defense to go over the try line and score. Nisal Deshatha once again missed the uprights. (Isipathana 64 – Kannangara 05)
The final nail in the Kannangara coffin was hit when Chathura Dilshan barged over for his 4th try of the match in the final play of the match. Gayan Wickramarathne converted superbly as referee ended another near-perfect performance from the defending champions, Isipathana as they got off to a winning start in the 2015 Schools Rugby League.
Full-Time: Isipathana 71 (13T,3C) – CWW Kannangara 05 (1T)
The place-kicking remains the biggest problem for Isipathana College this season as well and they will need to come up with a better place-kicker in the coming games.
Referee – Anura Jayasinghe
ThePapare.com Man of the Match – Chathura Dilshan (Isipathana no.4)
