Isipathana earn deserving 2-point win over Joes
Isipathana and St. Joseph’s have made it a habit to provide close finishes. In the first round of the League it was the Joes that triumphed by a single digit. Yesterday’s game was similar in that respect, the only difference being that the Pathana lads up-staged their opponents by 2 points in the quarter-final of the Milo President’s Trophy Knockout at the Royal Complex.
Isipathana was clinical in their win against the Joes by a whisker - Pic by Priyantha Wickramaarachchi
Santush Algama put the Joes in front in the seventh minute by putting over a 38-yard penalty. It took around seven minutes more for Pathana to make an impact. They were on the line or thereabouts for sometime. They forced a lineout, won it and swung the ball round. Winger Ramitha de Silva had the simple task of touching down as he was unmarked. Manilka Ruberu added the extra points 7-3.
There were some daring moves by Isipathana. They ran along the left touchline and kicked infield. The Joes defence was sparse, but they were able to control the bouncing ball and touch down in defence.
Skipper Janith Serasinghe broke away in a dazzling 40-yard run, but he was nabbed about 15 yards from the line. Next, the Pathana lads took a quick short-tap and stormed ahead. The Joes defence had not quite regrouped and Ramitha de Silva scored his second try. Ruberu did the honours once again (14-3).
The Joes now heaped severe pressure on the Pathana line. They were able to resist for a while, but finally something had to give. Prop Shevon Gregory forced himself over the line and Algama converted for a halftime score of 14-10 in favour of the ultimate winners.
The first part of the second half was a trifle dull and tedious. Nothing much seemed to be happening. Isipathana then started the action by slipping nice passes and making their way towards the goal line. But bad handling (on a perfectly dry day, mind you!) out paid to two scoring chances. Isipathana’s Manoj Gautham was shown a yellow card.
The Joes now took over and started to pound the Pathana line. They were held back for a while, but Shevon Gregory did his second Houdini act to touch down. Algama converted and the Joes were now in the lead 17-14.
Pathana got their efforts back on track seven or eight minutes from the end. They won a lineout and kicked to the far corner. Lock Venura Kodagoda was able to score the decisive try. It was not converted, with Ruberu having a difficult angle. Not matter, the Pathana lads held on for another minute or two and it was all over.
Pathana fly half Chamath Kalhara put the ball in the air regularly. His efforts almost bore fruit, as initially the Joes were forced to scramble around in defence. Fly half Algama’s kicks to touch were impressive. But the Josephian line was not given many opportunities to show their paces. To recap, Pathana scored through two goals and a try, St. Joseph’s replied with two goals and a penalty.
Referee – Rohan Fernando