Scintillating rugby by Isipathana’s back division saw them rout S. Thomas’ by 29 points (4 tries, 3 conversions, a penalty) to 20 (2 tries, 2 conversions, a penalty) in their Dialog schools rugby encounter played at Mount Lavinia yesterday.
The scores did not give the picture of how dominant Isipathana were from the beginning of the game.
Their back division took every opportunity to create the openings and go through to score and apply the pressure on the homesters.
Their centres Zhaahid Zumbi and Chamidu Chirath were in the thick of those moves while wingers Rinesh Silva and Hashen Randimal did well to go over the line on a couple of occasions during the first half.
It was the Thomians who opened the scoring in the second minute through a penalty put over by Yehan Bulathsinhalage from 22 metres out. That was all they could score in the first half.
Isipathana took control of the game after that and piled on the points through creative moves. Their first try was scored by Shanal Fernando by the corner flag in the tenth minute.
Winger Rinesh Silva did well with the conversion from the touch line.
They scored again six minutes later through a three-quarter move when winger Rinesh de Silva did well to find the opening and went over by the corner flag. He converted once again from the acute angle to give them 14 points.
Rinesh de Silva then put over a penalty and Isipathana increased the lead that looked too much for the Thomians to catch up with.
Isipathana led 14-3 at half time.
The second half too saw the Thomians scoring first when they were awarded a penalty and Bulathsinhalage found the target from 40 metres out.
Another three-quarter move saw Isipathana increase on their lead through a try by Rinesh Silva again. He could not add the extra points this time.
Isipathana scored again in the 47th minute when they won a line out and used the rolling maul for Chamath Iroshan to fall over with the ball.
Rinesh Silva made the easy conversion and by now Isipathana took a commanding 29 points to just six by the Thomians.
The Thomians came back with determination and scored a try by Mohammad Hakeem off a forwards rush. Bulathsinhalage made certain of the conversion to give them 13 points.
With the game fading off the Thomians scored again through their Number Eight Shanal Fernando who forced his way off a loose maul.
Bulathsinhalage converted with the time just a minute away from the end.
By – Sunday Observer