A day that rugby would like to forget
The lid blew off an action-filled encounter between Isipathana and Royal College, as proceedings at the Royal Complex were brought to an abrupt halt early in the second half, with the score reading 27-20 in Isipathana’s favour, after the Royalists walked off the field in protest of an alleged punch thrown by a Pathana player.
The incident occurred immediately after Isipathana, trailing 17-20 in the 59th minute, scored a drop goal to tie things at 20. Following the alleged punch, the Royalists kicked the ball out and marched off, leading to referee Pradeep Fernando awarding Isipathana a penalty, from which they scored an uncontested try through Centre Pabasara Madawa. It was converted to make the score 27-20 and give Isipathana the victory and the Milroy Fernando trophy.
Rugby referee society chief, Orville Fernando, said the match was awarded to Isipathana after Royal walked off the field. However, veteran referee Dilroy Fernando said an inquiry into the incident was likely to be held.
Until that point the match had swung like a loose pendulum, with Isipathana setting the tone early with some pace-laced offense before Royal’s forwards dug in and established their powerful presence.
Isipathana struck in just the third minute of the game, when off a lineout, Hooker Omalka Gunaratne danced his way through Royal’s defence to stun the home crowd into silence. Fly half Hirantha Perera converted to give Pathana a 7-0 edge.
They added to the blitz five minutes later with another spectacular try. Skipper and winger Uditha Premathilake punted the ball towards Royal’s in-goal area, before tearing after it and touching down.
Once Royal had gotten to grips with Isipathana’s pace though, things began to change. Slowly the momentum began to move away from the Greens, and Royal were smelling blood. At the 20th minute, they went in for the kill from a lineout, which led to Royal’s forwards pushing Hooker Shuaib Jabbar over the line, for a try converted by fly half Rimze Jamaldeen.
Fernando and Jabbar then traded penalties to make it 17-10 heading into halftime. But Isipathana were beginning to look extremely vulnerable. They were unable to match the strength of Royal’s forwards and after being rattled by another penalty from Jabbar in the opening minutes of the second half, they were being pressured once again deep in their half.
Royal surged forward in a rolling maul, and Isipathana could do little to pause their progress toward the try line. The move ended with Jabbar collapsing over the line and Jamaldeen converting, making it 20-17 Royal. The match was poised perfectly for a thriller, which ultimately arrived after the drop goal, although not in the way most true fans of rugby would have wished for.
In the aftermath four of Royal’s players went to the National Hospital to receive treatment following injuries they sustained during the game. The National Hospital Deputy Director Dr. Cyril de Silva said four of the team’s ruggerites arrived with injuries and received treatment at the Accident Ward of the OPD before being sent home.
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