Isipathana after their crash against S. Thomas’ last week came back to form as they played a vastly improved game to get the better of St Peter’s by 22 points (one goal, three tries) to 12 (one goal, one try) after leading 12-5 at the breather in their U20 inter-school rugby encounter played at Bambalapitiya yesterday.
The match evoked tremendous interest with two of the top teams brushing shoulders to keep their hopes alive as the tournament progresses. Isipatana came into the game without one of their top players in Sri Lanka youth player and their playmaker winger Vishwamithra Jayasinghe who was on the sick list. But even then everything went right for Patana from the word go.
They drew first blood with a try in the 10th minute by centre Sumeda Srimal off a five metre scrimmage but full back Prasad Devinda failed to add the extra points. Isipathana followed it up with some breathtaking moves but failed with the finishing touches.
The Peterites undeterred gave their opponents a torrid time and succeeded 16 minutes later in making their first score from a five metre line out with flanker Chathura Cabral going over. The easy conversion was fluffed by skipper Dilshan Paul.
Isipathana in return was gifted a try just before the short whistle where the Peterites were caught napping. A penalty booted by Prasad Devinda went astray but flanker Saranga Uthpala was there to grab the ball from a Pete defender to score under the post with
Devinda making no mistake with the goal to give them the lead.
The turn around saw Isipathana increasing the lead making amends from a missed penalty in the 7th minute to score two minutes later through scrum half Mohamed Rizwan who crept through.
Eight minutes later they increased the lead as the Peterites defenders were again caught napping with full back Prasad Devinda making a surprise move to go over for a try.
With time running out for the Peterites they managed to decrease the lead through a try by wing three quarter Dhanushka Ranjan with skipper Dilshan Paul adding the extra points but Isipathana held on to a healthy 22-12 lead which was the final score when referee D. Nimal blew the long whistle. |
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