Isipathana made to fight by Joes
Isipathana was made to fight hard for their 23-17 win by St. Joseph’s in the Singer U20 inter-schools rugby league tournament encounter played at Longdon Place yesterday.
An Isipathana player valiantly tries to barge through a heavy St. Joseph’s defence - Pic by Amila Gamage
Isipathana having taken a 10-0 lead at the breather made up their points through four tries and a penalty to the two goals and a penalty scored by St. Joseph’s.
However credit should be given to the Josephians who put in a spirited display as they fought back gallantly in the second half but lacked the much needed finish which could have turned the game in their favour.
Isipathana drew first blood within the first five minutes of play with skipper and No.8 Omalka Gunaratne going over for an unconverted try. Thereafter Isipathana fluffed four penalties that were offered with two being easy ones.
It took another 20 minutes for the next scoring to be done as Isipathana succeeded with the greatest difficulty to breach the Josephian defence with second row Adeesha Punchihewa barging his way through to score on the left corner flag. With the conversion going astray Isipathana led 10-0.
St. Joseph’s too lacked a good place kicker as they too fluffed a front of the post penalty with full back Shamilk Kurumbulapitiya’s kick going astray but he made amends by booting over the next penalty offered before the short whistle was blown.
The resumption saw the Josephians going into the attack and with the game three minutes old in a five metre scrum full back Siyambalapitiya blazed through for an under the post try which he himself converted helping the Joes to make ten each.
But that was short-lived as three minutes later second row Chathura Dilshan put his side in the lead again when he booted over a penalty. Isipathana further increased their lead in the ninth minute with flanker Nisal Deshantha going for an unconverted try.
With Isipathana leading 18-10 the Josephians undeterred gave the Isipathanians some anxious moments which ended in flanker Viraj Perera’s try and the conversion being made by Kurumbalapitiya saw the Joes decreasing Isipathana’s lead to one point 17-18.
Later Isipathana’s place kicker Chathura Dilshan fluffed another easy penalty right opposite before skipper Omalka Gunaratne’s unconverted try sealed the game for the Pathana’s 23-17 which also saw them maintain their unbeaten record with their successive win in as many matches.
Referee – D. Nimal.