Dialog Schools Rugby Knockout: Powerful Royal thump Isipathana 39-13 to reach final

 Action from the match (Pix by Ruwan Walpola)

By M. Shamil Amit

The much-looked-forward-to semi-final encounter of the Dialog Schools Rugby Knockout tournament between hometown rivals Royal and Isipathana turned out to be a one-sided affair as Royal pulled off a comfortable 39-points-to-13 win, played at Longdon Place yesterday.

The penalty try in the latter stages of the second half almost sealed the game in favour of the Royalists, but credit cannot be taken away from them as they put in the much-needed resistance which ensured them the win.

Royal, playing with better understanding since the match kicked off, saw them take a comfortable 19-8 at the breather and, in the process, accumulated their points through four goals, a try and two penalties to the two tries and a penalty scored by Isipathana.

It was Isipathana who made the first scoring through an unconverted try in the sixth minute, but Royal struck back to take over the lead two minutes later with a try scored by second row Thenula de Costa and Shafeek Mohamed adding the extra points.

With the two sides making sporadic moves and matching each other, Royal succeeded in the 17th minute from a peach of a try scored by centre Khiyan de Silva, with Shafeek Mohamed making no mistake with the conversion. Isipathana succeeded in reducing the deficit in the 24th minute from a penalty booted over by Nimantha Sandeepa.

But five minutes later, playmaker Khiyan ran past the Pathana defence to go over for his second try of the match, and with the conversion being kicked astray, Royal took the lead at the breather 19-8.

The resumption saw the two sides, as expected, sharing honours, and it was Isipathana again who made the first scoring off an unconverted try in the third minute.

Royal skipper Disas Pathirana sent the supporters wild with a try in the ninth minute, which was converted by Shafeek Mohamed, who booted over two penalties in the 12th and 20th minute before Royal’s crucial penalty try put the issue beyond doubt.

Royal, in the process, took sweet revenge for the 24-17 defeat of last year, and they will now meet Bradby Shield opponents Trinity in the final scheduled to be played on April 4.

Referee: Kelum Sandaruwan