Omalka leads the Pathana turn around at Pallekelle
View(s):Isipathana stayed on course for a show-down with Royal, and a possible annexure of the league title by weathering the form brewed Trinity in the first half, and then unleashed their power and fury in the second. This climaxed in an ultimately comfortable 37 points (2 goals. 4 tries, 1 penalty) to 22 (2 goals, 1 try, 1 penalty) win at the Pallekele Rugby Stadium.
Trinity probably won the first round on points. They opened scoring, then took the lead (8-3) and at the break had raised visions of a win by leading 15-8. It seemed that Trinity had decided that Isipathana wasn’t all that impregnable in defence and they played some stirring, spirited rugby to stall the Havelock Park machine.
But came the second half and it was a different story. Skipper Omalka Gunaratne came to the fore when Trinity threatened and, with his sudden, powerful burst through the defence shifted the momentum.
Gunatilleke and Kongahawatte traded early penalties and after nine minutes the score stood at 3-all. A misfield by an Isipathana player saw the ball bounce nicely for winger Diluksha Dange to catch and score. Trinity had the bit between their teeth and kept pressing. Suddenly Omalka Gunaratne appeared and powered his way around 35 metres to touch down. This powerful number eight brooked no stopping.
Shortly before half-time, Gunatilleke started a dangerous move which broke down ten metres from the line. However, he was on hand to take a short tap and go over. He converted himself and Trinity was in the lead 15-8 at lemons.Trinity gave as good as they got in this half, and their lead wasn’t a total surprise.
Isipathana had a scary moment early on after the restart. When a Trinitian applied the boot and the ball rolled loose in the in goal area. A desperate Kongahawatte just about managed to push the ball out.
Lock Chatura Dilshan touched down off a forward’s rush. Kongahawatte could not add the extra point. In fact he missed four conversions.
Isipathana was now a different proposition as they swarmed all over the Trinity 22. Sachin Alawathugoda, the prop, fell over and the visitors had taken the lead (18-15). Flanker Disal Dishaka then added to Trinity’s woes with an unconverted try.
The Isipathana forwards were in control and flanker Wageesha Weerasinghe went over. The points were added by Kongahawatta. Isipathana was now sitting pretty with a 15 point lead (30-15).
Centre Sachintha Dissanaike weaved his way through many defenders and touched down for Trinity. Gunatilleke’s conversion made it 30-22. Centre Chamod Fernando put the issue beyond all doubt by going over in the dying minutes. He intercepted and outran Gunatilleke to fall over.
Referee – Dinka Peiris.