Isipathana pip DSS 27–24 in narrow escape

Action from the match

pic by Pradeep Dilrukshana 

By M. Shamil Amit

Isipathana had to pull out all their resources to stave off the challenge of the gritty D.S. Senanayake College outfit, as they were made to work hard before pulling off a close 27 points to 24 win in the Inter Schools Rugby League encounter played at the Sugathadasa Stadium yesterday. The win saw them maintain their unbeaten record by coasting to their fifth successive victory.

Isipathana, trailing 14-15 at the breather, accumulated their points through three goals and two penalties, while DSS made up their points from a goal, a try, and four penalties. 

DSS led 24-20 with three minutes before the long whistle saw their hopes dashed as Isipathana, in a do-or-die effort, grabbed victory, with Shakib Zumri going over for a try and his brother booting over the conversion for the Pathanas to come out victorious 27-24.

The first session of proceedings saw DSS dominating the early stages of the game and succeeding in drawing first blood in the fifth minute from an unconverted try scored by Omitha Dissanayake. They continued to put Isiathana under tremendous pressure and shocked them by breaching the defence and increasing the lead four minutes later through a try scored by Janidu Wijeratne, with skipper Shehanda Umagiliyage adding the extra points, which was followed by booting over a penalty by the skipper.

With the game hotting up, the Pathanas got their act together as they made the first scoring in the 29th minute with skipper Nisala Jayaweera going over for a try and Shahid Zumri adding the extra points, and they had their opponents guessing they made their second scoring in the with skipper Nisaja Jayaweera going over for his second try and Shahid Zumri making no mistake with conversion as they decreased the lead 14-15 with DSS holding on to a one point lead at the breather.

On resumption, Isipathana took over the lead with the game three minutes old, with Shahid Zumri booting over a penalty that was offered, but that was short-lived as DSS took back the lead with skipper Shehanda Umagiliyage booting over a penalty.

The scoring through penalties continued, with Shahid Zumri doing it for Isipathana and Janidu Wijeratne booting over two within seven minutes for DSS before the crucial try scored by Shakib Zumri dashed the hopes of DSS.