Dialog Schools Rugby League: Isipathana’s late burst too much for Mahanama

Action from the match (Pic by Kushan Pathiraja)

By M. Shamil Amit

Isipathana showed their prowess as they struck back in the latter stages of the game, and the late burst proved to be too much for Mahanama as they chalked up a comfortable 34 points to 19 win, played at Havelock Park yesterday, to begin their Dialog Schools Rugby League tournament campaign on a winning note.
Isipathana, having held on to a slender two-point (14-12) lead at the breather, accumulated their points through three goals, two tries and a penalty to the two goals and a try scored by Mahanama.
However, credit cannot be taken away from Mahanama, who are coming back to the top division one segment after a lapse of 16 years as they put in a fine performance against the experienced Pathanas, who showed their top-quality 
rugby display.
Mahanama gave the Pathanas some anxious moments even though the Pathanas went into an early lead with the game seven minutes old by planting two tries within the space of five minutes, with the first in the second minute with scrum half Sithupa Bometh going over and in the seventh minute hooker Damsara Witharana making the scoring while fly half Thenula de Costa booted the two conversions to perfection for them to lead 14-0.
Mahanama had an opportunity to reduce the deficit, but a penalty offered in the 11th minute was fluffed by fly half Sith Ratnayake. But Mahanama surprised the Pathanas, as from there on they dominated proceedings and in the 14th succeeded in breaching the Pathana defence in the 19th minute with winger Nevith Kannagara going over for a try and Sithum Ratnayakke adding the extra points.
Mahanama continued to put the Pathanas under pressure and again succeeded in penetrating the Pathana defence in the 24th minute, but the kick at goal by Ratnayake went astray, and with no more scoring being done, Isipathana held on to a 14-12 lead at the breather.
On resumption, Mahanama continued their domination, and in the sixth minute, winger Mandilu Nemsara scored a peach of a try as he ran over 40 metres to plant an under-the-post try, which gave Ratnayake an easy kick at goal, which saw them take over the lead 19-14.
Poor ball handling by Mahanama denied them many scoring opportunities, and the next scoring was done by Isipathana in the 14th minute, with fly half de Costa making no mistake with a penalty offered.
From there on, Isipathana meant business, and playing with more cohesion, they rattled the Mahanama defence as they succeeded in scoring back-to-back tries within a space of a minute through second row Nevith Mevanka in the 21st minute and skipper and flanker Themithra Dodangama in the 22nd, but the two conversions were fluffed. Nevertheless, Isipathana took over the lead, 27-19.
Mahanama had little to offer as Isipathana’s experience proved to be too much for them, and on the verge of the long whistle, the Pathanas sealed the game with a try coming from centre Irosh Jayasinghe and de Costa adding the extra points for them to come out victorious by 34 points to 19.
Referee: Jeewaka Fonseka