ISIPATHANA IN SEVENTH HEAVEN, DRUB SCIENCE
Isipathana maintained their unbeaten record with a superlative 55 points to 07 win over Science College to record their seventh successive win in the second round match of the Singer U 20 rugby league tournament played at Havelock Park yesterday.
It turned out to be a one way traffic as the second half burst by the green jerseys’ proved to be too much for their opponents. Isipathana went on rampage having led 19-7 at lemons to add a further 36 points which ended in them making up their points through five goals and four tries to the solitary goal scored by Science College.
Isipathana went into the lead in the tenth minute through a try scored by centre Isuru Kongahawatte and second row Chathura Dilshan adding the extra points.
The green jerseys’ increased their lead four minutes later with winger Dilan Gallage over for an unconverted try. Science College put up a spirited display and managed to breach the Isipathana defence when winger Lasinda Sandaruwan crept through off a five metre scrum to score under the posts giving fly half Ruvin Fernando an easy kick at goal.
From thereon the two sides shared the honours while Science succeeded in preventing Isipathana from having things their way. It took another 22 minutes for the next scoring to be done which was on the brink of the short whistle with Dilan Gallage going over for his second try of the match while Chathura Dilshan made no mistake with the conversion.
The second half turned out to be a completely one sided affair with Isipathana scoring their first of the six tries in the second minute which was by skipper and prop forward Shenal Deelaka with Chathura Dilshan adding the extra points.
Seven minutes later second row Sudam Sooriyarachchi went over for an under the posts try and Dilshan added the extra points. Isipathana posted four more tries in the 24th, 35th, 37th respectively and the last one during the dying stages of the game. Chathura Dilshan, No 8 Omalka Gunaratne, flanker Ramesh de Silva and centre Chamod Fernando scored the tries while Dilshan was able boot over only one conversion.
The hapless Science side was unable to add to their tally of seven points and the convincing win has put Isipathana in a very strong position but their next two games are going to be tough assignments against St. Peter’s and the only other unbeaten side Kingswood.
Referee – A.C. Tennekoon
HARDFOUGHT12-5 WIN FOR WESLEY
Wesley had to pull out all their tricks out of the bag to secure a hard fought 12-5 win over a spirited CWW Kannangara MMV side in the Singer U 20 Plate Championship rugby encounter played at the Science College ground in Mt. Lavinia yesterday.
In fact CWW Kannangara MMV, a team that has been the talking point in the recent days was expected to give the Wesleyites a tough time and they did that to some extent.
The sides changed after the initial session of play with neither of them scoring. The scoring which was done in the second half saw Wesley accumulating their points through a goal and try to the goal scored by their opponents.
However even i n t he second half it took more than 20 minutes for the first scoring to be done with Wesley being successful through a try by Lahiru Madusanka who also scored the second try and made one conversion.
CWW Kannangara MMV’s try came three minutes away from the long whistle which was by second row K.G. Madushan and with the conversion being fluffed it turned to be too late as Wesley came out victors. Referee – Irshad Cader