Isipathana College produced a superb second half rally to beat D. S. Senanayake College 22-6 in their Inter-Schools Under-19 Division One League Rugby Tournament first round match played at Havelock Park yesterday.
The defending champions came under pressure initially as they went into half time with a lead of 10-6 but added two more tries in the second half to complete their fourth successive victory of the tournament.
Isipathana also managed to add their fourth successive bonus-point victory as they collected their points from one goal and three tries while D. S. Senanayake, the newcomers to ‘A’ Division rugby, managed only two penalties. Even then, the match was quite even at the break as Isipathana were denied of scoring a couple of tries with D. S. Senanayake putting up a good cover defence and tackling their opponents quite hard and low.
Isipathana, of course, opened the scoring in the very first minute of play when Skipper Naveen Kanishka initiated the move from a scrum in midfield and set the three quarters in motion to send Shehandu de Costa for a corner flag try.
Despite conceding an early try to their opponents, D. S. Senanayake kept their momentum with some terrific play from their three quarters and they were rewarded with a 25-metre penalty as Sehada Umagiliyage was on target with the kick to make it 3-5.
Isipathana had to wait for another 20 minutes for their second try of the match and once again it was a splendid three quarter move that set the mode with centre Shahid Zumri finding open space to score near the corner flag. D. S. Senanayake produced a superb counterattack almost immediately and they were able to add some pressure on their opponents by forcing a line out and a couple of five metre scrums.
But with half time nearing and referee Gihan Yatawara playing a few minutes extra for injury time, D. S. Senanayake opted for the three points with Umagiliyage making no mistake with the 25-metre penalty. After the turnaround, Isipathana wasted no time in getting their act
together well as Kalindu Silva responded after a superb inside pass from Silva to touch down for their third try of the match. Isipathana then put the issue beyond doubt as flanker Kaveen Tharusha broke off from a scrum in midfield, charged in for a good 15 metres before falling over under the post.
Silva made amends for the earlier two conversions and for missing out a 50-metre penalty by adding the extra points and to give Isipathana a convincing win in the end.
Chris Dhambarage