The green shirts see double blue
View(s):Singer Under 20 Rugby
By M. Shamil Amit
Wesley pulled off the second shocking win of the Singer Under 20 inter-schools rugby league tournament with a stunning 25-23 win over defending champions Isipathana in the match played at the Royal Sports Complex ground in Reid Avenue yesterday.
Skipper and scrum half Rahul de Silva who missed some crucial kicks at goal in the early stages of the game was the toast of the Wesleyites as his penalty booted over two minutes away from the long whistle helped them defeat Isipathana after a lapse of eight years. Wesley’s last win against Isipathana was in 2004 under the leadership of Rukshan Omar.
The score was deadlocked at ten each at the breather.
At the end Wesley made up their points through a goal, three tries and a penalty to Isipathana’s two goals and three penalties.
The defending champions Isipathana most probably under estimated them as their opponents came into the top division having ended as runners up in the Division 1B tournament last year.
But they most probably also forgot that the Wesleyites had beaten them in a tournament last month and became champions and were coming into the game with their heads high.
However the Wesleyites were far more superior in every aspect of the game from the time referee Irshad Cader blew the whistle.
The Wesleyites shocked and surprised the defending champions as they drew first blood in the eighth minute with wing three Sajith Ariyawansa going over for an unconverted try. 
The Isipathana struggled to get past the defense of Wesley as they made their first scoring ten minutes after Wesley did so through a penalty booted over by center Hirantha Perera.
Two minutes later fly half Isuru Kongahawatte’s try and converted by Hirantha saw Isipathana take over the lead. But that was short-lived as Wesley came back with vengeance with a try from deputy skipper and No 8 Gavin Siegertz before the sides changed over.
The resumption saw Wesley making a repeat of the first half as in the fourth minute flanker Lahiru Prasad receiving a pass barged his way through for a try with skipper Rahul making no mistake with the kick at goal for Wesley to lead 17-10.
Seven minutes later Hirantha Perera fluffed a penalty but made amends when he booted over two penalties within a space of five minutes in the 18th and 23rd minute to bring down Isipathana’s deficit to one point.
But three minutes flanker Lahiru Prasad saw Wesley take back the lead with a try posted down the left flag corner which gave Rahul a difficult conversion. Wesley 22 Isipathana 16.
With a ding dong battle going on Isipathana succeeded in penetrating the Wesley defense when their flanker went over for a try in the same pattern as Wesley did through flanker Omalka Gunaratne and Hirantha succeeded in making the conversion from a difficult range.
The scoring saw Isipathana take a one point lead at 23-22 but Wesley in a do or die effort and in a last ditch succeeded in forcing a penalty right opposite the goal post which skipper Rahul had little difficulty in gaining the crucial three points to give the Wesleyites a well deserved victory.
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