Isipathana prevail with close win over Wesley
It was near but yet so far for Wesley College as Isipathana College held on to pull off a close four-point win of 21-17, in a Cup Segment match of the Dialog Schools Rugby League 2025 played at Havelock Park yesterday.
A try disallowed just six minutes away from the long whistle denied Wesley a possible win with the referee taking a considerable time to give the final outcome, disallowing it as it was not a clean try. The defeat also saw Wesley’s unbeaten run coming to an end.
An Isipthana player moves ahead past Wesleyites - Pic by Eshan Fernando
Isipathana trailing 5-10 at the breather, came back in the second half as they made up their points through two tries, a conversion and three penalties to Wesley’s of two converted tries and a penalty.
It was almost the same pattern as the President’s Trophy knockout quarter-final clash between the two sides where Isipathana trailed at the breather and made a comeback in the second half to pull off a thrilling 24-10 win.
It was Wesley who made the first scoring in the fourth minute with a penalty booted over by stand in skipper Abdul Haadhi, deputising for Sandul Gammanpila, who is on the sick list. The Wesleyites dominated proceedings as they had the Isipathana defense in doldrums and they succeeded to get pass through in the 24th with flyhalf Kaizer Lye going over for a try and Abdul Haadshi adding the extra points.
Isipathana undeterred, fought back giving the Wesley side some anxious moments as they managed to decrease the deficit in the 28th with centre Situ Rajapakse going for an unconverted try. With no further scoring being done during the first half, Wesley held on to a 10-5 lead at the break.
On resumption Isipathana, playing with much cohesion, gave the Wesleyites some torrid time and they succeeded to take over the lead within the space of five minutes. Avishka Hiran booted over a penalty in the 44th minute and No.8 Shaakib Zumri went over for a try in the 49th minute, as Hiran made no mistake with the conversion to see Isipathana gaining the lead 15-10.
They further increased the lead in the 52nd minute from a penalty booted over by Hiran. With Isipathana leading 18-10, the Wesleyites, in do-or-die effort, gave their supporters something to cheer at as lock Niluth Hapugalle went over for a try. Haadhi’s easy kick at goal reduced Isipathana’s lead by one point 18-17.
From thereon it was a ding dong battle with both sides sharing honours before a penalty offered to Isipathana in the 59th minute was put over by Hiran with ease to expand their lead to 21-17. Wesley, with their robust approach, had the Isipathana defense almost in tatters before Wesley met their waterloo and had their unbeaten record tarnished.