Isipathana survives close shave at Havelock Park to keep the title dream alive

If you were at Havelock Park on the 10th of August 2024, you witnessed one of the most dramatic finishes in recent schools rugby history. If you were not there, sit down for this one because it had absolutely everything.

Isipathana College hosted Royal College in a Dialog Schools Rugby League Super Round fixture that doubled as the clash for the prestigious Major Milroy Fernando Trophy. When the final whistle blew, the scoreboard read 19-18 in favour of the Green Machine. But that scoreline does not even begin to tell the full story of a match that had the entire ground holding its breath until the very last second.

A tense first half where defence ruled

Both sides came out firing, but neither could find a way through in the opening exchanges. It took until the 22nd minute for the deadlock to break, when Royal conceded an accidental offside penalty and Shaahid Zumri stepped up to slot three points for Isipathana (IC 03, RC 00).

That was all the scoreboard had to show after 40 minutes. Just three points from a fiercely contested half. But the lack of points did not mean a lack of action. It was a cracking opening half where both sets of defenders threw everything into every collision. Two yellow cards added to the intensity, with Royal’s Yehan Weerasooriya shown one for a late charge and Isipathana’s Kaveen Tharusha receiving one for a dangerous tackle.

The second half explodes into life

The second half opened with Royal’s fullback trying to run laterally instead of taking the ball forward. He got isolated, conceded a holding-on penalty, and Zumri made no mistake from the tee to push the lead to six (IC 06, RC 00).

Royal finally got on the board when Isipathana were caught offside in defence. The Royal skipper pointed to the posts and Nabeel Yahiya kicked the three points to cut the gap in half (IC 06, RC 03).

Isipathana hit straight back. Another offside penalty from Royal, another clean strike from Zumri, and the Greens were back to a six-point cushion (IC 09, RC 03).

Then came the moment that swung the momentum. Straight from the restart after that penalty, Isipathana let the ball bounce. The unpredictable oval did its thing, Royal pounced on the loose ball, and Thineth Gamage crashed over for the first try of the match. The conversion missed, but suddenly the lead was down to a single point (IC 09, RC 08).

Royal take the lead as nerves set in

Feeling the heat, Isipathana’s composure wobbled. A clearance kick from Abdullah Faizer was charged down, and in the scramble to recover, the Greens gave away a penalty for holding on. The Royal skipper opted for the posts, and Idris Farouk knocked it over to give Royal the lead for the first time in the match (IC 09, RC 11).

For the Isipathana faithful watching on, this was the moment where hearts started racing.

Zumri answers when it matters most

With less than 20 minutes left, the Green Machine won a holding-on penalty and Faizer kicked for touch deep inside Royal territory. What followed was textbook Isipathana rugby. A brilliant lineout, patient build-up play working the ball from left to right, and then Zumri found the tiniest gap between the last two Royal defenders on the right-hand side to dive over for a crucial try. Avishka Hiran added the conversion and the Greens were back in front (IC 16, RC 11).

Royal roar back as drama reaches fever pitch

The final ten minutes belonged to the Royal forwards. They went to their power game and battered the Isipathana defensive line relentlessly. To make matters worse, an Isipathana player picked up a yellow card, leaving the Greens to fight with 14 men for the closing stages.

Royal kept hammering. Isipathana kept defending heroically. But the pressure eventually told, and Akira Yatawara found the whitewash to level the scores. Farouk converted, and the Royal supporters erupted around Havelock Park (IC 16, RC 18).

It looked over. The Green Machine appeared to be on the ropes.

The final seconds that nobody will forget

With time almost up, Isipathana were desperately trying to work their attacking line when the ball was knocked forward. For a split second, it felt like curtains. But then an Isipathana player went down, the referee stopped play, and the decision went upstairs to TMO Dinka Peiris. The ruling came back that Royal’s Althaf Aman had pushed an Isipathana player after the whistle. Penalty to Isipathana.

Twenty-five metres out. The entire season on the line. Shaahid Zumri standing over the ball with thousands of eyes locked on him.

He struck it clean. The ball sailed through the posts. Havelock Park erupted. Isipathana supporters flooded the ground as the referee blew for full time (IC 19, RC 18).

A match for the ages

This was schools rugby at its absolute best. Two proud rivals going at each other for 80 minutes with neither willing to give an inch. There was controversy, there were yellow cards, there were momentum swings, and there was a finish that nobody at the ground will ever forget.

For Isipathana, this win was about more than just the Milroy Fernando Trophy. A loss would have handed St. Peter’s College the league championship before the final round was even played. Instead, the Greens march into the last week with their title dream very much alive, setting up a blockbuster showdown against the defending champions to decide who lifts the league trophy.

Zumri. The man for the big occasion

Shaahid Zumri scored 17 of Isipathana’s 19 points, bagging the only try for the Greens and nailing four penalties including that unforgettable last-gasp winner. He was rightly named the NDB Bank Player of the Match. Every team in the league will be studying how to stop him next week, but on this form, good luck to anyone trying.

The ICOIC family can breathe again. Just about. Now bring on St. Peter’s.

Full time: Isipathana College 19 (1T 1C 4P) beat Royal College 18 (2T 1C 2P)

Isipathana College scorers: Shahid Zumri 17 points (1 try, 4 penalties), Avishka Hiran 2 points (1 conversion)

Royal College scorers: Thineth Gamage 5 points (1 try), Akira Yatawara 5 points (1 try), Idris Farouk 5 points (1 penalty, 1 conversion), Nabeel Yahiya 3 points (1 penalty)