Isipathana College flyhalf Shahid Zumri played a crucial role in guiding his team to a nail-biting 19-18 victory over Royal College in the Super Round game of the Dialog Schools Rugby League 2024 at Havelock Park yesterday. With this win, Isipathana reclaimed the Major Milroy Fernando Trophy, which Royal had held onto after their 22-17 win last year.
The match’s outcome hinged on Royal’s lack of discipline in the final 30 seconds, which resulted in a crucial penalty for Zumri. He accounted for 17 of Isipathana’s points, including a well-executed try and four penalties. Avishka Hiran converted Isipathana’s only try, giving the eventual winners a slim 3-0 lead at halftime. Royal’s points came from two tries, a conversion, and two penalties.
Royal started the game chaotically but was saved an early try by the Green Machine with some good tacking by their backs. A few minutes later the Royalists were 10 metres away from the Isipathana line, but was well guarded by their forwards. Both teams had ample chances to score but lacked the finishing touch.
Isipathana drew first blood in the 21st minute with a good kick to the posts by Zumri to give his team 3-0 lead, and the score remained up until halftime. Royal could have scored at least a try if had they won the lineouts to execute their hallmark move, the rolling maul. After the resumption Royal backs gave away a penalty in front of the posts, which was put over easily by the reliable Zumri to increase the lead 6-0 in favour of the Green Machine.
Royal found a breakthrough in the 42nd minute following an offside infringement by Isipathana, as Nabil Yahiya put over the penalty to cut the lead to 6-3. Barely three minutes later, the Royalists gave away an easy penalty for an offside offense as Zumri fired across successfully to extend Isipathana’s lead to 9-3.
However, in the 45th minute Royal prop Thineth Gamage crashed through to score on the right flank, but Yahiya missed the difficult conversion to bring the game to a one-point advantage to the hosts 9-8.
Isipathana fumbled at the breakdown in the 49th minute in front of their posts 40 metres out, as Yahiya took full advantage to put over the penalty that came in Royal’s favour to put his team in the lead for the first time 11-9. But the lead lasted just three minutes until playmaker Zumri made a vital breakthrough to touch down, and with winger Hiran’s conversion Isipathana regained the lead 16-11.
Royal had another opportunity to add points through a penalty, but Yahiya failed to put over from a difficult angle to the posts in the 58th minute. However they regrouped to find a vital breakthrough in the 63rd minute as Royal forwards finally went into gear and scored on a pick and run off replacement forward Afif Farook. Idris Farook’s conversion put Royal to a slim two-point lead of 18-16. In the dying minutes the Royalists handed over a penalty to Zumri, who missed the difficult kick to the posts, but 30 seconds later an indisciplined act by Royal forward Sayyed Althaf was spotted pushing an Isipathana player after the referee had blown the whistle for a knock-on in favour of them. Referee Reveen Alexander took the TMO expertise option of Dinka Peiris, who recommended a warning to the Royal player and penalty in favour of Isipathana, as Zumri made no mistake this time with his boot to hand his team a thrilling 19-18 win.
By – Sunday Times