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Isipathana eat humble pie
Ananda first time in 38 years
Ananda 8, Isipatana 5
By Shamseer Jaleel
Ananda had their first taste of victory over Isipatana in their 38 years of rugby when they ran into an impressive 8 points ( a try and penalty ) to 5 points ( a try ) win in their Singer League schools A division rugby encounter at Longden Place, yesterday.

At half time Ananda led by 3 points to nil. In the initial half both sides played badly dropping passes on many occasions. Besides this, they also missed penalty conversions that were well within their kicking range. However, Ananda went ahead just before the short whistle when their place kicker Nipuna Vimukthi found target with a 25 metre penalty conversion.

On the whole it was Ananda who played a better brand of rugby. They looked the penetrative side with some daring moves which had the Isipathana defence bemused on more than one occasion. However they lacked cohesion to convert these moves into points.

Halfway through the second half Ananda finally got their act right when their winger Isuru Fernando gave the finishing touches to a move to fall far right. Isipathana on their part are going through a season which they would like forget. In the preceding games they went down to St. Anthony's at 5 - 10 and Wesley by 13 points to 18 points, and the side that famous to be a robust agile XV looked a lethargic and tottering pack.

The consolation try for the losers came at the dying minute of the game through an unconverted try by Chamara who fell over to post an unconverted try.

Referee: D. Nimal
Isipatana won the under 13 game by 49-0 and the under 15 game by 38 points to nil.

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