Isipathana College, renowned for its green machine image of schools’ rugby did bring this season to a peak yesterday in a rousing blockbuster 24 to 17 semi final triumph in the Dialog Schools Rugby President’s Trophy Knockout Tournament 2025 at the Sugathadasa Stadium.
Isipathana College took control in a first half rampage 21-5 half time lead.
The kick off was galvanised by Isipathana touch finder Nimantha Sandeep into Royal territory with the ensuing lineout to a rolling maul winning Isipathana a penalty. Scrum-half Sithupa Bometh’s quick tap-and-go saw Shaakib Zumri collect and blaze his way to plant a try with Sandeepa converting to lead 7-0.
Sandeepa in a center piece playmaker role took the fight hrough Royal’s defense leading to another infringement tackle of him inside the red zone. Soon fly-half Avishka Hiran taking play to the five meter area Another penalty for not retreating 10 meters to Bometh tapping again with lock forward Nevith Mevnaka collecting to s brilliant try offsetting a herd of defenders. Sandeepa was dead accurate with the conversion as Isipathana led 14-nil.
The Havelock Park lads took the game to a pitch with Sandeepa invading the Royal 22 to going through and the conversion put Pathana in a box seat 21-0 stranglehold.
However Isipathana suffered an injury setback just before the break losing the impetus of both starting wingers.
It was the turning point Royals moment leading to Simak Shafeek creating a long going opening for Didula Jayasuriya, from a five meter tap diving over to Royal sounding the boards with 5 points to Patana’s 21.by halftime.
The second session indeed was Royal’s show 12 more points gained by a sharp reversal despite the Green Machine adding a further penalty 3 points with soon Patana driven on the backfoot.
With just 10 minutes to full time, Royal College got going in what was to be a gallant fightback that would culminate in a blockbuster, Royal gallant losers of breathing the brimstone of a worthy loser 17-24 in a nsil biting finish driven by the forwards with replacement scrum-half Shaahid Mohideen leading the way. Skipper Amika Samarasinghe was key to scoring with Simak Shafeek converting tight as the kick was – 12-24 to that final piece from a string a of moves to replacement winger Dinuka Perera going over for the 5 points oft the unconverted try in s 17-24 ending Isipathana’s way bringing the Green Machine to the finals versus Trinity College next week.