Isipathana captain Dahan Nithina Wickramaarachchi receiving the Dialog Schools Rugby Trophy from Harsha Samaranayake, Senior General Manager Brands and Media, Dialog Axiata PLC

Pix by Kushan Pathiraja

By M. Shamil Amit  

Isipathana dethroned Royal with a thrilling 21 points to 15 win in the title deciding match of the Dialog Schools League Rugby tournament played at Havelock Park yesterday.

The score does not indicate the top class rugby dished out by the two teams who had their supporters on the feet and gave them their money’s worth. Havelock Town boys regained the schools rugby title after a lapse of five years with the last being in the year 2017 when the side was led by Sumudu Rankothge.

The first session of proceedings was a closely contested affair with the Royalists taking a slender 10-6 lead. Isipathana came back with  a vengeance in the second half and in their course to victory made up their points through a goal, a try and three penalties as against to a goal, a try and a penalty scored by Royal.

It was Royal who drew first blood in the 12th minute through a try scored by centre Philio Calyanaratne and full back Nabeel Yehiya making the conversion, who five minutes later helped Royal to increase their lead when he booted over a penalty.

Isipathana reputed for their do or die style of game counter attacked with their forwards giving the Royal defence some torrid moments. They succeeded to reduce the lead from a penalty booted over by winger Rinesh Silva in the 23rd minute.
The Green Machine continued to put the Reid Avenue boys under tremendous pressure and just before the short whistle they forced a penalty which winger Mithila Mihisara made no mistake with. On resumption Isipathana came into the field with a different game plan and went into attack and succeeded to do the first scoring in the seventh minute from a penalty booted over by winger Mithila Mihisara.

From thereon on it was a ding dong battle with the two teams sharing honours. First Isipathana fly half Naveen Kanishka sold a dummy and went over for a try off a first phase move with reliable winger Mithila Mihisara making the conversion which saw Isipathana taking the lead 16-10.

Thereafter, Royal noted for their rolling maul had the Isipathana defence in tatters and winger Naveen Perera barged his way for a try. However, the opportunity to take over the lead went a begging as Nabeel Yehiya fluffed a
kickable conversion.

The Pathans put the issue beyond doubt when winger Praveen Jayakantha went over for a peach of a try and even though the conversion went astray they held on to come out victorious.

Apart from clinching the Dialog Schools Rugby league title they also regained the Major Milroy Fernando Trophy to increase the tally of wins to 15 to Royals 11.

Referee – Ishanka Abeykoon