RUGBY: Isipatana College continued their success in the Sevens rugby game when they became Cup Champions at the schools under-20 Singer Sevens organised by the Sri Lanka Schools Rugby Football Association when they defeated Kingswood College by 31 points (3 goals, 2 tries) to 19 (2 goals, 1 try) in the finals played before a large crowd at the Nitawela rugby stadium in Kandy yesterday.
At half-time the Pathans led 19-5.
There was no doubt about Isipatana’s victory as they dominated every phase of the game and the score line does not tell true story.
Isipatana Maha Vidyalaya scored tries through winger Kasun Gamage (1), prop Sampath Suranga (1), fly-half Reza Mubarak (2), and centre Dinusha Chaturanga (1). Fly-half Reza Mubarak goalled 3 of the tries. For the Kingswoodians prop Tilina Manoj (1), scrum-half Roshan Weeraratne (2) scored tries with Roshan Weeraratne adding the extra points to two of the tries.
Aruna Rankothge refereed.
An unwarranted incident with about 2 minutes to go for the final whistle marred an otherwise excellent game full of good moves and excellent rugby.
This incident originated when referee A. Rankothge awarded a penalty for Isipatana MV and fly-half Reza Mubarak took possession of the ball and was contemplating briefly on his next move when Kingsood’s Gayan Weeraratne charged and he fell down.
What followed was not rugby but a brawl with the other players joining. Reza Mubarak who suffered a head injury was carried off the field in a stretcher in an unconscious condition.
Meanwhile referee A. Rankothge showed the red card and gave the marching orders to Gayan Weeraratne It is understood that Reza Mubarak was taken to a private hospital and from there transferred to Kandy General Hospital where he is kept under observation.
Chairman of Isipathana’s Rugby Development Committee Mr. Selwyn Saleem confirmed that Reza Mubarak is kept under observation at Kandy Hospital and he condemned the brutal attack on this ruggerite in the rugby field.
During this incident stones and other missiles were thrown into the field by the spectators.
President of the Central Province Rugby Football Union and former Sri Lanka flanker and Trinity Rugby Lion Iswan Omar was the chief guest. Principal of Kingswood College Mr. Ranjith Chandrasekera was one of the guest of honour.
In the cup semi-finals Isipathana MV beat St. Sylvester’s College 33-5 and in the second semi-final Kingswood College beat their traditional rivals Dharmaraja College 26-0.
Plate championship
Vidyartha College won the Plate championship by defeating Wesley College 40 points (5 goals, 1 try) to 21 (3 goals) after leading 21-7 at lemons.
In the semi-finals Vidyartha College beat Lumbini MV 24-5 and Wesley College beat St. Joseph’s College 14-7.
Bowl championship
Piliyandala Central College won the Bowl championship by defeating Embilipitiya Central College by 14 points (2 goals), to 7 (1 goal). At half-time Piliyandala Central led 7-0.
In the Bowl semi-finals Piliyandala Central scored a shock 12 points (1 goal, 1 try) to 10 (2 tries) win over the more fancied Ananda College.
In the second semi-final Embilipitiya Central triumphed over the more fancied St. Benedict’s College by 17 points (1 goal, 2 tries) to 5 (1 try) after leading 7-5 at half-time.
