Defending champions Isipathana College got their Singer rugby league round 2 fixture list off to a flying start recording a convincing 48 points to 10 victory over Zahira College at Havelock park. Isipathana recorded their points from 4 Goals and 4 Tries while Zahira responded with 2 unconverted tries.
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Zahira College who have been tagged as the dark horses in this year’s rugby league, came into this game without their captain Azhar Irfan, Center Hassan Razik and play maker Zaid Singhawansa due to injury and things didn’t look too well for the visitors as they conceded a 12 nil lead within the first 5 minutes of the game. With barely 2 minutes gone Isipathana scrum half Harith Bandara drew first blood going through a back pedaling Zahira defense to score an unconverted try. A couple of minutes later Isipathana Skipper Sumudu Rankothge powered his way through desperate zahirian tackles before sending Chamod Fernando for an under the post try. Fernando added the conversion himself as Isipathana raced to an early lead. (IC 12 – ZC 00)
Zahira tried to slow things down in a bid to settle into the game and managed to keep possession which frustrated the Isipathana defense. However it was the hosts who struck again turning over possession to score a brilliant counter attacking try which saw full back Chamodh Fernando going over for his 2nd try of the game. Fernando put over the easy extras once again as Isipathana extended their lead.
Both teams tried hard to penetrate each other’s defense but neither were successful due to handling errors and unnecessary penalties being given away. The reigning champions however scored their 4th try of the game in the 35th minute which also secured their bonus point. The Pathana backs who looked menacing when they ran with the ball once again worked their magic and when the ball found its way to Chamod Fernando’s hands lurking in the wing, he sent out a well timed inside pass to his winger Nadeesh Chaminda who added the finishing touches going over under the posts. Fernando was on target yet again as Isipathana put themselves in a commanding position. (IC 26 – ZC 00)
Having been outplayed for most parts of the game Zahira did manage to score a try during the dying stages of the 1st half and it was all down to some hard work by their forwards. After several phases by his fellow fiorwards from close range, prop forward Muammar Deen managed to ground the ball over the try line. Minhaj Samsudeen’s conversion attempt was off target and with that came the half time whistle.
HALF TIME: ISIPATHANA 26 – ZAHIRA 05
With Zahira known for their remarkable comeback during the game, Isipathana knew they had to be sharp right from resumption to assert their dominance. They did just that scoring a rather easy try through Scrum Half Harith Bandara. The “Green Machine” was in full flow building up phases at pace and the quick thinking Bandara was sharp to sneak through the blind side to score his 2nd try of the game. Chamodh Fernando was unsuccessful in adding the extras but the try delivered a psychological blow to the Zahira camp. Despite dominating play isipathana did have a few loose passes thrown about while some handling errors stalled their progress. Zahira on other hand gave their traveling fans something to cheer about scoring a try through lock Mohomed Amjad. Once again it was the zahirian forwards who grinded their way inch by inch before Amjad barged over from close range. Samsudeens conversion attempt was however successfully charged down by Sumudu Rankothge and Zahira had to be content with only the 5 points yet again. The try was enough to give the Zahira supporters their voice back but that joy lasted for a mere few minutes as Isipathana’s Center Manilka Rubeyru went over the whitewash to extinguish even the faintest of hopes of a zahirian comeback. Chamodh Fernando missed the conversion yet again but his team was far and away. (IC 36 – ZC 10).
Ten minutes later Isipathana ran in their 7th try of the game which came against the run of play. A deep kick was followed up well by the Isipathana defense that turned over possession trapping the Zahira player with nowhere to go. Hooker Nepul Athukorala drew the zahira defense before popping the ball inside to his second rower Ravindu Anjula who dived over besides the posts. Chamodh Fernando put over the extra 2 points as Isipathana passed the 40 points mark. (IC 43 – ZC 10).
Isipathana put the icing on the cake right at the end with Manilka Ruberu going over for an unconverted try near the left corner flag.
FULL TIME: ISIPATHANA 48 – ZAHIRA 10
Referee: Priya Suranga.
ThePapare.com player of the match: Chamodh Fernando (IC)
Score Breakdown
Isipathana 48 (26) – 4 Goals, 4 Tries
Tries: Harith Bandara (2), Chamodh Fernando (2), Manilka Ruberu (2), Nadeesha Chaminda, Ravindu Anjula
Conversions: Chamodh Fernando (4)Zahira 10 (05) – 2 Tries
Tries: Muammar Deen, Mohomed Amjad
Isipathana Coach Lasintha De Costa – “ I think we did well against a decent team like zahira and we are playing after a 3 week break. We will now try to improve further from here and train well for our next game.”
