Royal’s second-half surge sinks Pathana
Royal College, Colombo, produced a comeback for the ages to snatch a heart-stopping 34–31 victory over this year’s Knockout Champions, Isipathana College, in their final Cup segment match of the Dialog Schools League Rugby Tournament, played at the Royal Sports Complex
yesterday.
The Royalists scored three converted tries, two unconverted tries, and one penalty to secure their 34 points, while the Isipathana side crossed for three converted tries and two unconverted tries to tally 31 points.
Royal player desperately tring to break free. Pic by M.A. Pushpakumara
It was a tale of two halves. Royal were left chasing shadows in the opening 35 minutes, trailing 3–24 at the break, before turning the tables with a second-half surge that had the crowd at Reid Avenue on its feet.
Isipathana wasted no time opening their account. Burly forward Adithya Madushan barged over in the 11th minute, and Avishka Hiran made no mistake with the conversion to make it 7–0.
Royal replied in the 21st minute with a penalty, cutting the deficit to 3–7, but Isipathana’s hard-running centre, Nimantha Sandeepa, crossed the whitewash in the 24th minute. The conversion went astray, yet the lead stretched to 12–3.
The Pathana forwards kept hammering away, and number eight Shaakid Zumri powered over in the 31st minute. Avishka Hiran added the extras for 17–3. Things went from bad to worse for Royal when prop Yositha Sithumina was sent to the sin bin for foul play.
With the man advantage, Yuvindu Kodithuwakku struck in the 35th minute after a slick backline move, and Hiran’s conversion took Isipathana into the break with a commanding 24–3 lead.
Whatever was said in the Royal dressing room at half-time clearly lit a fire under the boys in blue and gold. Just three minutes after the restart, number eight Disas Pathirana muscled over, though the conversion rattled off the upright. It was 8–24.
The momentum began to shift. In the 45th minute, Royal’s pack rumbled forward, setting up a try by Amika Samarasinghe. With Mohamed Simak converting, they closed the gap to 15–24.
Isipathana hit back with a converted try in the 52nd minute through Nevith Mewanka and Avishka Hiran added the extras to lead by 15–31.
Minutes later, a driving Royal maul saw an unconverted try by Imizal Nazeera help reduce the lead to 11 points. From thereon, Royal were unstoppable. In the 63rd minute, winger Yoshitha Sithumina darted over in the corner, and Simak’s pinpoint conversion made it 27–31.
The game reached fever pitch in the dying stages. With the clock ticking and the tension mounting, Royal’s burly prop forward Sithumina crashed over from close range, sending the home crowd into raptures. Full-back Yuwan Pathirana coolly slotted the conversion, sealing a 34–31 triumph in the final act of the match.
Referee: Sumedha Arunashantha.