Trinity College delivered the shock knockout rugby punch of the week hammering the high riding green machine of schools’ rugby, Isipathana College by a superior performance undoing the famous Havelock Park aura team for speed by a rousing 32-10 epoch triumph in a Dialog Schools Rugby League 2025 clash in their own Lions den at Pallekelle yesterday.
Trinity owed their running unbeaten success to behind the scene man former Kandy SC and Sri Lanka great, head coach Fazil Marija in leading from start to finish.
At half time it was 17-5.
Trinity struck early, sending a loud message in the fourth minute. Breaking through a shaky Isipathana defence, flanker Hamza Abdeen finished a powerful move in the left corner after receiving a slick offload. Flyhalf Shan Althaf made no mistake with the conversion, giving Trinity a 7-0 lead.
Althaf extended the advantage with a well-taken 22-metre penalty in the 13th minute to make it 10-0. The Trinity flyhalf then showcased htis class with a brilliant attacking move. After Udan Wijekoon placed a smart kick into space. Althaf followed up with a deft chip over the line and dived over for a try. He converted his own try, stretching the lead to 17-0 by the 27th minute.
Isipathana clawed back five points in the 32nd minute through fullback Nimantha Sandeepa, who sprinted in after receiving a sharp offload from winger Sithupa Bometh. But the conversion missed, and Trinity held a solid 17-5 lead at the break.
Isipathana resumed the second half with purpose. Sandeepa again found space and scored his second try in the 39th minute, reducing the deficit to 17-10. However, their momentum was quickly halted when No.8 Shaakib Zumri received a red card for dangerous play in the 41st minute—a huge blow that left the Green Machine a man down at a critical stage.
Trinity pounced on the advantage as Althaf fired another penalty in the 45th minute to make it 20-10 before winger Munula Yaddehige, Trinity’s key try scorer this season. planted a try which though went unconverted in the 55th minute following a slick pass from Althaf and Trinity in a 25-10 high.
Centre Disal Thomas added the final flourish for Trinity’s fourth try, a bonus with Althaf, converting for a great 32-10 triumph.