The Juggernaut Vs the Dark Horse. Whose game will it be?

Another exciting game of rugby is predicted to be dished out at the Royal College Sports Complex this Saturday (27th June) when the frontrunners to the league title, Royal College take on a talented and unpredictable outfit of Isipathanians.
The two teams will be contending for the Milroy Fernando memorial trophy.

Match facts
Date: 27th June
Venue: Royal College sports complex
Kickoff: 04:30pm

Big Picture
The outcome of this game, like many other games of high quality rugby we have seen throughout the season, will be a tough one to predict. Royal College, coming in as favorites to this game will be looking to take this game as seriously as last week’s encounter as the Isipathanians have earned an unendorsed title of being the Dark Horse or Wild Card of the ongoing season. Many might look forward to this encounter as both teams have managed to defeat the mighty Kingswoodians in their respective encounters against the boys from Kandy. The high quality of rugby dished out by these two great institutions throughout the years makes this a spectacle that could compete with the standards of an international game.
For the Isipathanians, the Royal encounter is one of the most important games of the season. Throughout encounters in the recent past, the Isipathanians have approached this game with a fierce determination to overcome the Royalists and it has been so for the most part of the last decade as we have seen games that have left many spectators at the edge of their seats. The Isipathanians have traditionally approached this game with a killer focus and we can expect nothing less for this clash as the boys from Greenland Avenue led by Niroshan Chathuranga will undoubtedly put their bodies on the line to regain the coveted trophy. After last week’s defeat to Trinity, the green shirts will be looking to make amends and show their supporters that the Isipathana rugby machine is far from the realm of mediocrity.
The Royalists on the other hand, have a reputation to maintain, and judging by their impressive victory over the Kingswoodians last week, they certainly look up to the challenge stepping onto the plate to withstand a potent attack from the toughest of oppositions. Naren Dhason’s side has been unbeaten this year and look like the favorites to stake claim to the league title and they have come too far and have worked too hard to let it slip away.
The Royal forwards have been outstanding this season, and their play in this game will be a decisive factor in the outcome of the game. Although the Royal eight have an upper hand over the Isipathana forwards in weight and reputation, the Isipathana eight pose a major threat to the Royal forwards at the line out, which will be a vital part the game as the Isipathanians have employed deep, penetrating kicks in their strategy throughout the season and seem to be very comfortable and extremely threatening at the line out. Isipathana coach Shamlee Nawaz is sure to have made a note about the weakness of the Royalists at the line outs and will be looking to expose it right from the beginning. The charismatic flanker for the green shirts, Saranga Uthpala, who has been tremendous force in the Isipathana outfit, will have to work hard to hold the Royal Number Eight Hamza Hassen, who has been in outstanding form this season, at bay. The Royal third row has worked wonders throughout this season and will face stiff opposition from the Isipathanians.
The contest between the three quarters will be the most interesting aspect of the game as both teams boast of talented players that have made headlines this season. The Royal threes have simply outclassed much of their preceding opposition but will encounter an intimidating challenge from the Isipathana line. Royal’s captain and Fly Half Naren Dhason has been having a glorious season thus far and will be eagerly anticipating a challenge in his opposite number Niroshan Chathuranga, who has also been tagged as one of the players to watch this season. The reliable Royal fullback Shabeer Mohamed will have to be alert as the Isipathanians put their kicking game into effect as speedster Vishwamithra Jayasinghe will be looking to pounce on a loose ball to use his blistering pace to score for the greens. Isipathana Fullback Devinda Prasad has been in top form this season and will make a huge difference in play when he joins the line to run the ball and make the most of his boot.

Spectators can expect to see a fierce battle against these two institutions at the Royal College Sports Complex on Saturday. The outcome of this encounter will most probably decide the winner of the league title and both Royalist and Isipathanian rugby supporters alike will be able to witness a dynamite game prior to the conclusion of the season.

www.thepapare.com
Written by Yasas Ratnayake
Friday, 26 June 2009 12:32

Trinity outplays Isipathana 27-12

by S. M. Jiffrey Abdeen - Kandy Sports Corr.
Trinity College upset all predictions and pulled off a sensational 27 points (3 goals, 2 penalties) to 15 (1 goal, 1 try, 1 penalty) win over Isipathana Vidyalaya in their schools under 20 `A' Division rugby tournament match played at Pallekelle yesterday.
At half time Trinity led 10-8.
This match turned out to be a hotly contested affair with the Lions making a sustained attack through their forwards which flustered the Pathans to some extent and they never came to terms with it completely.
Trinity took an early lead when winger Kennan Armstrong put over penalty awarded for high tackle.
Trinity went further ahead in the 24th minute when prop Murad Ramzean peeled off a line out and Kennan Armstrong added the extra points.
Isipathana reduced the lead in the 28th minute when a Trinity player was penalised for killing the ball and Malik Jumath put over the penalty.
In the 31st minute Isipathana moved the ball and centre Ashan Gallage scored and this went unconverted. Isipathana 8-10.
After lemons Trinity extended their lead to 13-8 through a penalty fixed by Kennan Armstrong.
But soon after Isipathana took over the lead for the first time in the match when Prathap Devinda intercepted a pass and made a blazing 70 metre against a virtual open field and scored mid right. Jumath did the conversion. Isipathana 15-13.
In the 28th minute after a sustained attack by the forwards Trinity's flanker Idiris Omar barged over. Kennan Armstrong added the extra points.
Trinity completed their first win when winger Kennan Armstrong scored off a three quarter movement and added the extra points himself.
Aruna Jayasekera refereed.

Sunday Observer June 21st 2009.

Greens in resounding win over Joes.

The lads from Isipathana Mawatha also the Gazelles of rugby came up with a brilliant all-round performance to overcome the Josephians at Havelock park today.
Half time score: 12-03
Full time score: 22-03
After beating the Heavyweights of Kandy rugby Kingwood College in their own back yard the Pathanians were not going to take anything likely as they came up with a superb performance against the Josephians.
The spectators got their moneys worth as the Pathanians displayed some brilliant open rugby. Isipathana kept the Darley road boys all at sea with some fast paced rugby in the middle. Scoring first for the home team was nippy scrum half Rizwan who was brilliant in open play for the Pathanians. He was ably supported by Devinda Prasad who was playing at a makeshift position at Fly half. Prasad too had a brilliant game going over for the home team with a peach of a try. Center Ashan bamboozled his way through to score to give the home team the much needed cushion.
The visitors however continued their poor run in the league and seemed out of sorts against a much better unit. They were only able to score a solitary penalty to Isipathana’s 22 points. It’s back to the drawing board for the Josephians and its crunch time for the Pathanians as we come to the business end of the season.

www.thepapare.com - 13 June 2009

Isipathana dump Kingswood 25-19

by Shamseer JALEEL

Isipathana College created the major upset in the school under-20 President League Rugby Tournament up in Kandy yesterday. They brought the Kingswoodians unbeaten run to an end winning by 25 points (2 goals, 1 try, 1 penalty, 1 drop goal) to 19 points (2 goals, 1 try).
At half time the winners completely battled the Randles Hill school by 19-0.
Isipathana dished out the usual running rugby by their speedy three quarters. Though Kingswood came back strongly in the second half it was too late for the Randles Hill school.
Isipathana tries were scored by Vishwamithra Jayasinghe, Prashan Attanayake, Tharindu Siriwardena, Mohamed Jumad converted two of them and also put over a penalty. Prasad Devinda dropped a neat goal for Kingswood.
Full back Rajitha Sansoni, Roshan Weeraratne and prop M. Dharmawardena scored. Roshan Weeraratne converted two of them.
Referee: Pradeep Fernando.

Sunday Observer, 7 June 2009

Isipathana VS Kingswood Match Results

Isipathana Beat Kingswood 25/19 at Bogambara.