Green Machine overpowers Thora
Isipathana College, the Green Machine as they are better known, continued on their performance from last year to secure a 29-20 win over S. Thomas’ College, at the college grounds in Mt. Lavinia yesterday.
Isipathana collected the points from four tries, three conversions and a solitary penalty, while the Thomains secured their points via two converted tries and two penalties.
Isipathana winger Rinesh Silva goes airborne to score a spectacular try - Pic by Eshan Fernando
In the opening minute the Thomians were gifted with an easy penalty by the Isipathanians, which was put over by fullback Yehan Bulathsinhalage to lead 3-0. In the 10th minute Isipathana full back Kalindu Silva turned on the gas off a beautiful backline run by playmaker Shaahid Zumri and scored a brilliant try on the mid right flank. Winger Rinesh Silva made the conversion.
Six minutes later Isipathana winger Rinesh Silva mirrored the previous play to score on the right extreme, and the try scorer made the conversion to expand the lead to 14-3. Three minutes on, Silva put over a penalty to add three more points to the tally as they expanded the lead to 17-3, on a penalty for accidental offside by the Thomians. At the eve of the short whistle the Thomain fullback Bulathsinhalage fluffed a relatively easy penalty without disturbing the scores.
In an identical move, on the second half the Thomians made amends as Bulathsinhalage put over a penalty to bring the score to 17-6. However five minutes later the Green Machine spearheaded by their superior backs made mincemeat of their counterparts with winger Hashen Randimal scoring an unconverted try on the left flank as Isipathana extended their lead 22-6.
In the 48th minute the Green Machine secured the bonus point after flanker Chamath Iroshan scored via a 10-metre lineout which was converted from a well driven rolling maul. Silva made no mistake with the conversion to extend the lead once again
to 29-6.
But the Thomians were never ready to retreat, and made a strong comeback to score two back-to-back tries. In the 55th minute Thomian prop forward Mohamed Hakeem scored under the post on a pick up and drive, utilising their much heavier tight five. The easy conversion pushed up the score 29-13, and just at the brink of the long whistle Thomian deputy skipper Shenal Fernando took a quick tap to score near the posts. However time was not in favour of the Thomians, who was beaten by Isipathana 29-20.
