Down but never out. Isipathana fight back in the rain to keep perfect record alive

There are days when rugby is not about flair or running lines or flashy tries. Sometimes it is about grit, adaptability, and finding a way to win when everything around you is trying to make sure you do not. That is exactly what Isipathana College delivered at Havelock Park yesterday, grinding out a hard-fought 15-13 victory over Trinity College to make it four wins from four in the Dialog Schools Rugby League 2024.

The unbeaten record stayed intact. But Trinity made them earn every single point of it.

Weather turns the game into a forward battle

Heavy downpours before kickoff and constant showers throughout the match turned Havelock Park into a slippery, unforgiving surface. Neither side could play their natural game. Handling errors plagued both teams as the wet ball made clean passing and offloading a nightmare.

Trinity read the conditions smartly and committed early to a forward-dominated game plan. It was a shrewd move, and for much of the first half it worked. Isipathana, forced to shelve their trademark running rugby, struggled to find answers.

Trinity take control in the first half

The Greens drew first blood when Shaahid Zumri knocked over a penalty in the eighth minute to make it 3-0. But Trinity absorbed the early setback and hit back through a penalty of their own from fullback Yevan Hulangamuwa in the 22nd minute to level the scores at 3-3.

From there, the Kandy boys took charge. Their forwards kept the pressure on, and in the 34th minute scrumhalf Udaan Weerakoon found a gap to score a well-worked try. Hulangamuwa added the conversion, and Trinity went into the break leading 10-3.

For those watching in green, it was an uncomfortable first 40 minutes. Trinity were playing the smarter game and the scoreboard reflected it.

The Greens stare down a 10-point deficit

If the first half was uncomfortable, the opening minutes of the second half were alarming. Hulangamuwa slotted another penalty in the 43rd minute to stretch Trinity’s lead to 13-3. The Green Machine was staring down a 10-point deficit in dreadful conditions against a team that looked completely in control.

This was the moment that defined the match. Instead of panicking, Isipathana did something that showed real rugby intelligence. They abandoned the game plan that was not working and adopted Trinity’s own forward-heavy approach. If the conditions demanded it, the Greens were willing to roll up their sleeves and fight in the tight.

The comeback begins

Three minutes after falling 13-3 behind, centre Avishka Hiran crashed over for an unconverted try to cut the deficit to 13-8. Suddenly there was life in the Green Machine again.

Isipathana kept the pressure on, camping inside Trinity territory and refusing to let the Kandy side breathe. The forwards, who had been outmuscled in the first half, were now carrying with purpose and aggression.

Tharusha and Faizer. The heroes of the hour

The breakthrough came in the 52nd minute. A collective forward drive powered its way towards the Trinity line, and prop Kavin Tharusha was the man who touched down to level the scores at 13-13. The ground held its breath.

Then came the moment that will be talked about for a long time. Abdullah Faizer, from fullback, stepped up to take the conversion from a difficult angle, on a wet surface, with the game hanging in the balance. He struck it perfectly. The ball sailed through the posts, and Isipathana had the lead at 15-13.

The composure required to nail that kick under those conditions cannot be overstated. It was ice-cold.

Holding on for dear life

The final 28 minutes were about one thing only. Defence. Isipathana knew that a two-point lead in these conditions meant nothing if they switched off for even a moment. Trinity threw everything they had at the Greens, desperate to find a way back. But the defensive line held firm. Every tackle was made, every breakdown was contested, and every metre was fought for.

When the final whistle came, it was relief as much as celebration for the Isipathana faithful.

What this win says about the Green Machine

This was not the prettiest win of the season. It was not supposed to be. What it showed is that this Isipathana side has more than one way to win a game. When the conditions took away their running game, they adapted. When they fell behind by 10 points, they did not fold. They found a way.

Trinity deserve enormous credit for the fight they put up. They came with a plan, executed it brilliantly for large stretches, and were desperately unlucky not to come away with more. They pick up bonus points for keeping the margin within five, which is the least their effort deserved.

But at the end of the day, four from four is four from four. The Green Machine rolls on, and the ICOIC family has another heart-stopper to add to the collection.

Full time: Isipathana College 15 (2T 1C 1P) beat Trinity College 13 (1T 1C 1P)

Isipathana College scorers: Kavin Tharusha 5 points (1 try), Avishka Hiran 5 points (1 try), Abdullah Faizer 2 points (1 conversion), Shaahid Zumri 3 points (1 penalty)

Trinity College scorers: Udaan Weerakoon 5 points (1 try), Yevan Hulangamuwa 8 points (1 conversion, 2 penalties)