Green Machine demolish Rajans
Isipathana scored as much as eight tries against Dharmaraja - Pic by Priyanka Samaraweera
Isipathana College cruised to record their third successive win of the Dialog Schools Rugby League 2024, after an eight-try 46-8 demolition against Dharmaraja College played at Havelock Park yesterday. Going in as favourites against the travelling Rajans, who suffered their second defeat, Isipathana scored from a total of eight tries and three conversions, while leading by a commanding 31-3 at halftime.
Dharmaraja, who managed to gain an early 3-0 lead through a penalty off Sadeesha Weerawansa in the fourth minute, failed to capitalise against the marauding Green Machine, who gave away an unconverted try besides the early penalty.
However, Dharmaraja’s 3-0 lead was brief for a phase of just four minutes, until prop Kaveen Tharusha barged through to brace a try, with a successful conversion to follow from Abdullah Faizer, putting Isipathana in the lead 7-3. With some neat offloads and perfect ball-handling, Isipathana pushed through to add another try in the 12th minute through centre Dinudu Wickramaarachchi. With Faizer’s successful conversion Isipathana expanded the lead to 14-3.
Winger Aditya Madushan helped Isipathana further expand their lead to 19-3 with a well orchestrated try in the 24th minute to give his team the benefit to earn the vital bonus points. Centre Nimantha Sandeepa took over the kicking duties to help his side further expand the led to 26-3. On the brink of the halftime, centre Madushan went over to post his second try of the game as it went unconverted, yet Isipathana enjoying a commanding 31-3 lead at halftime.
However Isipathana was a bit scrappy from the beginning of the second half against a transformed Dharmaraja side, who forced mistakes on their opponents. Yet winger Avishka Hiran managed to break out from a tight Dharmaraja defence and run all the way a good distance to score a try in the 41st minute, followed by a failed conversion from Sandeepa. With that Isipathana further expanded the lead to 36-3.
Two minutes later Isipathana performed another brilliant breakaway try, with prop Tharusha going over to score his second try of the match. With another failed conversion attempt from Sandeepa, Isipathana reached their lead to 41-3, gaining a healthy 38-point deficit.
The Rajans made use of an opportunity when Isipathana were brought down to 13 men following the yellow cards issued on forwards Sanuja Jayaweera and Nisaja Jayaweera, to roll over to score their only try in the 50th minute. Lock Ravindu Wickramage took the honour to do the finishing touches of a forward move, as Weerawansa failed to add the extra points.
With Isipathana’s attempts to reach the milestone of 50 points being well thwarted by the Dharmaraja defenders in the dying moments of the game, the hosts were left frustrated until replacement winger Samiru Disas made a brilliant breakthrough to post Isipathana’s eight try, which went unconverted off the boots of Shaahid Zumri, who initiated many try-scoring moves for his team’s emphatic win.