Dialog Schools Rugby: Isipathana record comfortable 33-10 win

Action from the match between Royal and Thurstan
Pix by Nisal Baduge 

By M. Shamil Amit

Isipathana prevailed with a comfortable 33-10 win over DS Senanayake in the Dialog Schools Rugby League tournament encounter played at the Royal Sports Complex ground in Reid Avenue yesterday, and in the process, they chalked up their second successive win.
Isipathana made up their points through four goals and a try, to a goal and a penalty scored by DSS.
The first session of play saw the two sides sharing honours. It was Isipathana who made the first scoring in the ninth minute off a try by Nevitha Mevnika and Thenula de Zoysa, adding the extra points. They surged five minutes later with a try scored by Yevidu Kodituwakku and Nimantha Sandeepa making the conversion to lead 14-0.
DSS was awarded a penalty in the 24th minute, and V.S. Adappita made no mistake, and from there on, DSS, making sporadic moves, succeeded in getting past the Pathana defence, which ended in Sujeewa Kumara going over for a try and Adapati adding the extra points.
With no further scoring being done and the short whistle blown, Isipathana held on to a slender 14-10 lead.
The resumption saw Isipathana dominating as they began with back-to-back tries, with skipper Shaakib Zumri scoring the two in the fourth and ninth minutes, but only one was converted by de Zoysa. From there on, Isipathana seemed to be playing a relaxed game whilst succeeding to stave off the challenge.
Isipathana sealed the game in the 28th minute with a try scored by Naveed Thahir and Nimantha Sandeepa making the conversion, and with no more scoring done in the remaining period, saw the Pathanas come out victorious by 33 points to 10.
Referee: Jeewaka Fonseka

Royal prevail over Thurstan 40-15
Royal College’s second-half rally proved to be too much as they struck back to prevail with an easy 40-15 win over Thurstan in the Dialog Schools Rugby League tournament match played at Sugathadasa Stadium yesterday.
Royal was surprised by Thurstan, who took a slender one-point lead, 15-14 going into the break. Royal, coming from behind in the second-half, posted 26 points while Thurstan failed to add any in this session.
Royal, in the process, accumulated their points from five goals and a try to a goal, a try and a penalty scored by Thurstan, and Royal succeeded in maintaining their unbeaten record with their second successive win. 

Zahira pip Science 31-25 
Zahira came back with vengeance in the second half after being led 14 to 19 at lemons to pip Science College by 31 points to 25 in the Dialog Schools Rugby League encounter played at Mt Lavinia.
Zahira chalking up their second win made up their points through four goals and a penalty against the two goals, a try and two penalties scored by Science College. 

Ananda down Prince of Wales 31-5
Ananda recorded their first win of the Dialog Schools Rugby League tournament when they coasted to an easy 31 points to 5 win over Prince of Wales, played at the Air Force ground in Ratmalana.
Ananda led 12-5 at the breather whilst making up points from three goals and two tries to the solitary try scored by Prince of Wales.

Sri Sumangala defeat 
Lumbini MV 33-10
Sri Sumangala, Kandy, also recorded their second win of the Dialog Schools Rugby League tournament by defeating newcomers Lumbini MV 33-10. Sri Sumangala made up their points through four goals and a try, a goal and a penalty scored by Lumbini MV.

Action from the match between Lumbini and Sumangala

Science’s Nethma Senarathne is tackled by two Zahira players

Action from the match between Prince of Wales and Ananda