Isipathana College, famously known as the Green Machine, secured a scintillating 27-24 victory over the formidable DS Senanayake College in one of the most thrilling matches of the Dialog ‘A’ Division Schools Rugby Tournament, played at the Sugathadasa Stadium yesterday, saw Isipathana overturn a narrow 14-15 halftime deficit to emerge victorious by a mere three points.
Isipathana College scored three tries, all converted, along with two penalties to amass their 27 points. In contrast, DS Senanayake College put up a fierce fight, scoring one converted try, one unconverted try, and four penalties, totaling 24 points.
The match began with DS Senanayake College striking first. Thatheera Perera intercepted a pass and dashed through a gap to score an unconverted try in the sixth minute, giving the Dons an early 5-0 lead. The Dons extended their lead in the 11th minute when vice captain Janindu
Wijeratne scored a try in the right corner following a pass from skipper Shehanda Umagiliyage. Wijeratne then successfully converted his own try, pushing the score to 12-0.
DS Senanayake’s captain, Shehanda Umagiliyage, added a magnificent 50-metre penalty kick in the 21st minute, further increasing their lead to 15-0.
Isipathana’s fightback began with their captain and Number Eight, Nisada Jayaweera, scoring a try in the mid-right. Shahid Zumri converted the try, reducing the deficit to 15-7.
Just before halftime, Jayaweera scored another try, which Zumri again converted. This reduced the gap to just one point, with DS Senanayake leading 15-14 at the break.
In the second half, Isipathana took the lead for the first time in the 40th minute with a penalty kick from Shahid Zumri making the score 17-15.
The match continued to be a neck-and-neck contest. DS Senanayake’s captain, Umagiliyage, fired across a 15-metre penalty in the 44th minute, putting his team ahead 18-17.
By – Daily News