Green Machine triumph Science test at Mount
Isipathana were fast and domanant as ever - Pic by M.D. Nissanka
Isipathana College ran circles around the Science College defence to clinch a comfortable 35-8 win in a Singer Schools League Rugby Championship match played at the latter’s home ground in Mt. Lavinia, yesterday.
The Green Machine scored from five tries, two conversions and two penalties, while the side from Mt. Lavinia had to settle for just one unconverted try and one penalty. The winners comfortably held on to a 25-3 lead at halftime.
Science’s R. Madushanka opened the scoring with a penalty in the second minute, but a quick reply in the form of a try from the Pathana captain, Janith Serasinghe which centre Manilka Ruberu converted, put the Greens in the lead. This lead was extended by another quick penalty from Ruberu.
The team from Havelock Town maintained the lead until the end of the game. And the home team was prevented from scoring again until the final minutes.
Raees Akthar of Isipathana bagged in two tries. One of the tries was scored after three phases from a wellhandled line-out just before a cooling-break.
Pathana full-back Ashan Gunasekara scored another try down the blind side to put the score up to 25-3 at lemons. Ruberu’s conversion struck the goal post this time.
As the second half began the game’s tempo dropped with some sloppy handling of the ball and too many aimless kicks. Ramitha de Silva scored the Green’s fifth try and Ruberu succeeded in converting it. Science had a few opportunities to score in the second-half, but they were snatched away by some good tackling from the greens as well as handling errors. Pathana scored for the last time as Ruberu kicked in another penalty.
A breeze of consolation came for the home fans as Rasanga Weerasinghe was finally able to penetrate the Pathana defence for the team’s first and only try. The conversion attempt by Madushanka however, bounced off the post. Pathana substitute Tharindu Sandaruwan received a yellow card for dangerous play.
“It was a good win for us”, said Pathana Coach Lasintha de Costa.
“We are taking it match by match and we will rectify our mistakes as we prepare for the next game against Zahira, and then the big matches to come.”
The match was refereed by Ishanka Sandaruwan.