President’s trophy knockout rugby -Isipathanians escape to win

Isipathana came out winners in the third quarter final of the Milo President’s trophy knockout rugby tournament when they got the better of Wesley by 23 points (one goal, two tries, two penalties) to 17 (one goal, two tries) at the Royal Sports Complex ground at Reid Avenue yesterday having led 13-7 at the breather.

But the Wesleyites were unlucky as referee Priyantha Guneratne made a mess of the game with vital mistakes which were visible to the naked eye of so many that had come to witness this important encounter. His mistakes proved costly for the Wesleyites. Even prominent independent rugby personnel witnessing the game were shell shocked at the refereeing standard.

Referee administrator Vimal Perera said they had to make do with the available resources as most of the top shelf referees were unavailable for various reasons. The match was expected to be a cliff-hanger and it almost ended like that. With both sides playing rugby at its best, it was Isipathana who drew first blood in the seventh minute with full back Reza Mubarak making amends for having earlier missed a difficult penalty. Four minutes later Wesley had an opportunity of equalling but the penalty offered was fluffed by full back Yasas Nonis.

The Isipathanians increased their lead when skipper and centre Ashan Costa crept through and dummied his way for a try in the 17th minute with the conversion going astray.

Isipathana somehow caught the Wesley defense napping as they worked the line with winger Dinusha Chaturanga taking the ball and doing the honours and the conversion again went astray.

Not deterred the Wesleyites got into the act making some sporadic moves and succeeded in penetrating the defence with winger Niranjan Wickramaratane going over for a right corner flag try. Nonis added the extra points with a fantastic conversion from a difficult angle with which the short whistle was blown.

The second half began with Isipathana’s Reza Mubarak missing an easy penalty in the very first minute. Seven minutes later in a five yard srummage Wesley’s scrum half Samantha Lakshan jumped over for a fine try with the opponents unaware what happened. Wesley had a chance of taking the lead but Samantha who himself took the conversion did not succeed.

But Isipathana kept on increasing their lead with a penalty put over by Reza Mubarak in the 15th minute followed by a try through skipper Ashan Costa two minutes later which Mubarak converted.

With the game gathering momentum and time running out, the Wesleyites in a do or die effort succeeded when winger Niranjan Wickramaratne followed a kick by scrum half Samantha Lakshan to grab the ball and go over for a try almost at the tail end of the game.